Decision made on food services

BEVERLY-The Fort Frye Local Board of Education voted to contract out management of its food services Tuesday after an eight-hour meeting filled with mostly opposition from those in the district.

Chartwells School Dining Services will take over management of the district's food services, which has been losing money and has a deficit of more than $70,000.

Fort Frye's cooks will remain in place under the plan and the board will approve the manager Chartwells recommends hiring.

"It always seems like there may be winners or losers but we look at this as a potential partnership," said Dennis Thomas, sales director for Chartwells.

Many of the parents and food service employees who spoke at Tuesday's meeting disagreed.

"It's very important to keep our money within the school, district, county and state," said Lisa Mahoney, of Whipple, who had hoped to apply for a manager position if Fort Frye kept full managerial control. "If we could increase the oversight of our current food service program we could certainly do a lot better than in the past."

The district had originally considered a complete contracting out of its food services but after receiving bids found they couldn't legally pursue that option and could only contract out management.

"Under our (Ohio Association of Public School Employees) labor agreement that option is not a viable option this year, according to our attorneys," said board member David Vandenberg. "There's one year left in that contract. Anything could be negotiated in a new contract."

The district's cooks said they worry they will lose their jobs after that contract is up and said they hadn't been told until recently the food program was in the red.

"Give us a chance to fix it," said cook Lynn Linger.

Board President Zack Waite said there has been no discussion yet on whether a full outsourcing of the services might occur next year.

"That could be the furthest thing from the truth," he said.

Hiring Chartwells to manage food services will mean gaining managerial expertise, software, food discounts and that all employees except the manager will remain employees of the Fort Frye district, board members said.

It will cost $34,030 more to run the program in the first year with Chartwells than if there was district management, said Fort Frye Superintendent Matt Dill.

"We'll have better food quality, an increase in nutrition, expertise, we expect a rise in participation...it's an investment," he said.

The district's food service program, which has 13 employees with one retiring this year, had seen a deficit of $41,000 last year and $32,000 this year.

If the district had been able to completely contract out services to Chartwells, there would have been a guarantee of breaking even in the first year, said Vandenberg.

Instead, there is still expected to be a deficit at the end of the first year but revenue is expected to keep rising beyond that.

Contracts are negotiated each year with Chartwells and at any given time a district can give 60 days notice and end the contract, said Thomas.

Chartwells has a fixed per-meal rate (16.75 cents per meal) for its management fee so the company makes more money if more students eat school meals, so marketing and new food choices are part of the package, he said.

"With the food being brought in, we hope to drive participation up," he said.

Dozens of people at the meeting offered several other suggestions to aid the sinking food services program, including extreme rises in meal prices and trying a new manager within the district.

Ultimately no one in the district has the expertise to manage a successful food service program, said Vandenberg.

"The success of this program is going to have to come from (Chartwells)," he said.

"We're the stewards of your dollars and cents," said Waite. "If that takes us hiring a company to manage food service, that's what we'll do."

After several hours in executive session, the board voted 3-2 in favor of hiring Chartwells, with board members David White and Tammy Bates voting against it.

White said he felt more time was needed to explore internal solutions.

"This really hit us hard last year," he said. "We have not sat down and told the cooks we have a problem so they could address it."

Member Comments

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scandalous
07-01-09 11:48 PM »Report Abuse	Along the lines of WarrenGrad97, in America we award our money to the company or group who can provide the best service for the least cost. Most colleges did this in the 90's and while some swap companies every few years until they find one that is the best partner, and stick with it. Don't be afraid of change,and don't fear the future. Next story!
mykidrules
07-01-09 8:24 PM »Report Abuse	The school board stated they are doing this because they are in the red. What they don't say is that part of the problem is a former school principal that didn't do his job. He didn't process the paperwork to receive payment for the free lunches from the state. If he had done his job, we wouldn't be in this mess. The school board does not care what is in the best interest of the kids. Since the food service will control our kitchens, does that mean we can't use it for fundraisers? This will have a major impact on our community. The school board clearly doesn't care about the kids. Why does that not surprise me.
LkA1994
07-01-09 2:14 PM »Report Abuse	What is interesting is if it was not totally outsourced and only out-sourced for Mgmt only the were still showing a loss of $54,000 for first year and 10,000 for the second year. Whereas, the cooks were projecting a loss of 20,000 the first year and in the black 23,000 second year.
Hewlguy
07-01-09 2:03 PM »Report Abuse	$73,000 in the red and still counting?? It's about time someone did something about this ongoing problem!!! Congrats to the Fort Frye board for having the guts to not bow down to the opposition at the meeting and get this thing under control. Wish the board in my district were as brave.
TheBridge
07-01-09 2:00 PM »Report Abuse	In fairness to the board, their responsibility is to manage the affairs of the district in a fiscally responsible fashion. They took a dollars and cents approach, detached from the emotion of eliminating local employees(who will likely be hired by Chartwell anyway). The board is hired to make these decisions that are sometimes tough medicine for their constituents. I suggest you nay sayers watch the result and see if this proves correct. If not, call them on it by voting them out. Otherwise, let them do the job they were elected to do.
WarrenGrad97
07-01-09 12:58 PM »Report Abuse	Nobody can manage and run a service better than a company that specializes in that service. It's just business people, and in the end the district will reap the rewards by spending the money they are wasting on food services on things such as buying books. This outside service will be able to purchase better quality food at cheaper prices, this is an easy decision.
ushouldcare
07-01-09 12:58 PM »Report Abuse	I was present for this so called meeting last night. 3 of the board members had their minds made up before they even heard the communities thoughts. These cooks deserve better from the board the only reason they didn't lose their jobs THIS year was because of their contract. News flash Mr.Vandenberg your not the whole board and those of you who tuck your tails and follow behind him beacuse he thinks he knows it all SHAME on you. For once try to stand up and have some backbone and do whats best for the kids. A thanks to Mr.White who has for years fought for these kids and our district. On the last note as for Mr. Dill I say to myself how on earth did you get this postion you side stepped every question handed your way. It will not suprise me by the end of your term this community does not chew you up and spit you out. We as a community need to remember who fights for our kids,grandkids etc. the next time we vote.
whipperwilloppenion
07-01-09 12:52 PM »Report Abuse	Fort Frye voters remember all of this come election time! Get rid of the know it alls that won't listen to the opinon's of concerened parent's/grandparent's and any concerened voter of this district. You can always tell who will listen to reasoning and who won't! And when they cry wolf we need more money see who they listen to and beg to then! Thank You Dave and Tammy for your support!
ClevelandRocks
07-01-09 12:15 PM »Report Abuse	Who is the manager that is out of a job?
forthestudents
07-01-09 12:11 PM »Report Abuse	The cooks were told to follow guidelines this past year- by the wellness plan for the district with no money backing their effort. Healthy food is more expensive and less appealing to the students. The cooks have not been managed or guided and were sent on a path of self-destruction. There are many problems that could have been fixed without the extreme investment of this HUGE company. The investment would have been better to higher teacher/staff/ or equipment that directly impact the students. What are our kitchens going to do with fancy "warmers" if all this does not work out?Why was Dennis Thomas introduced by Mr. Dill as "our good friend"? Would have loved to have the Times reporter use Dill's quote to the other issue of the meeting "Parent Complaint" The words in the quote involve cat and spat and came from the mouth of the man that is being paid by taxpayers money. I am a parent that has been involved and am highly discouraged with the path of this
ProudMom2
07-01-09 10:55 AM »Report Abuse	David White stands up for the children. He always has. He and Lisa Perry were always trying to do what was right for the children. Too bad no one would let them do it.
warrenfan
07-01-09 10:49 AM »Report Abuse	Vandenberg runs the whole thing. He pretty much tells everyone what to vote. There have been more things decided by him before it even goes to the public. He's all about saving money. This school always has since this board been in decided what to do and who cares what anyone else thinks. Remember this when it is time to vote these people for next school board election. Take them out of the board.
Someonehastosayit
07-01-09 10:49 AM »Report Abuse	Does anyone know what else happened at the board meeting last night?
nuffsaid
07-01-09 9:52 AM »Report Abuse	Once again three members of the board failed to listen to the people who actually do the work. Kudos to the two members who voted against it. At least they have the guts to think for themselves and take the best interest of the school and community at heart.
BuckeyeGal
07-01-09 9:46 AM »Report Abuse	It seems to me that was eight wasted hours when they pretty much made there decision prior to the meeting. That's pretty standard at any level of public office.
concernedpatriot
07-01-09 9:11 AM »Report Abuse	"BEVERLY-The Fort Frye Local Board of Education voted to contract out management of its food services Tuesday after an eight-hour meeting filled with mostly opposition from those in the district." The school board has spoken. Voters, make certain you speak when it comes time for re-election of the school board. I am so sick and tired of politicians at all levels of government not listening to the people. It is well past time voters remind these fools who they are working for. Do not vote for ANY incubent at ANY level of government.

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