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Chartwells reports small drop in lunch participation, surplus reinvested; contract renewal delayed pending state template
Summary
Chartwells staff told the board lunch participation fell about 1% while breakfast participation rose around 3%; Chartwells reported operating at a surplus used to replace kitchen equipment and said a contract renewal is expected at the June meeting pending receipt of the state template from MDE.
Representatives from Chartwells updated the board on school-nutrition operations, participation trends and contract timing.
Alyssa Wachsman with Chartwells described menu innovations and student engagement efforts, citing events such as themed days and a breakfast-bingo promotion. She reported district lunch participation decreased about 1% this school year, with 322,695 lunches served to date, while breakfast participation increased about 3% to 106,230 meals served. Chartwells also reported 32,350 a la carte meal equivalents for the year to date.
Superintendent and finance staff said the food-service program has operated with a surplus that has been reinvested in equipment—examples cited included kitchen flooring, dish machines and combi ovens—and that those improvements would otherwise have required general-fund or capital funding. Animesh Goswami, area director, said the vendor is preparing pilot programs to maintain or grow participation and noted next year is a contract rebate year.
The district noted that a contract renewal normally would be presented at this meeting, but the Minnesota Department of Education had not posted the required contract template; staff said they expect to bring a contract for board approval at the June meeting.
