Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Service topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves continued use of regional food‑service cooperative despite fee increase
Summary
Trustees voted to continue participating in a 15‑district cooperative that bids food purchases and provides training, despite a per‑district fee increase from $5,000 to $8,000 and board questions about value and savings.
Deuel School District trustees voted to continue participation in a regional cooperative that manages school food purchasing and staff training, after hearing staff describe cost savings and service benefits.
A staff member explained the cooperative centralizes bids for items purchased from Performance Food and noted that, with 15 schools participating, the district expects better pricing than buying alone. The staff member said the cooperative also provides training sessions for kitchen and business staff at no additional cost to the district; travel is the only expense for attendees.
The superintendent and staff acknowledged the cooperative’s fee will rise from about $5,000 per district to $8,000. The staff member told trustees one district estimated roughly $5,400 in annual food‑cost savings from cooperative purchasing, which the staff member cited as evidence the fee increase could be offset by lower food costs. "I recommend that we stay with them, because they're a wonderful resource," the staff member said.
Trustees asked about services, training schedules and whether the fee increase was justified. After discussion, a trustee moved to continue with the cooperative and the board approved the motion by voice vote; the chair declared the motion carried.
The board did not record a numerical vote tally in the minutes. The district will receive contract documents once other districts complete their board actions and the cooperative distributes agreements.
