Post by title1parent on Nov 11, 2008 8:17:35 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1272215,6_1_NA11_D204BRD_S1.article
D204 to focus on lunches
November 11, 2008
By TIM WALDORF twaldorf@scn1.com
First food, then wheels.
That's the plan in Indian Prairie School District 204 - bid food services this year and busing services next.
David Holm, District 204's assistant superintendent for business, said the district considered putting both service contracts out to bid this year, but decided against it.
"Not only is the bidding process demanding," he said, "but if we bid both of them out at the same time, there's potential here to have completely new contractors for both, and that is so much change all at the same time."
So, for a number of reasons, the district decided it should focus its attention on its food service program this year.
Due to increased costs, this program, which is intended to be self-sufficient, actually ran a $546,000 deficit last year. That is why administrators and consultants are recommending that the district join the National School Lunch Program. When its contract with Sodexho expires this year, the district will approve a new deal with a vendor that calls for meals to meet state and federal nutrition guidelines so that additional revenue will be sent District 204's way.
That will mean students will no longer be able to purchase just "junk food." Some fruits and vegetables will have to be included in their purchases.
"It will be a good thing for the students because the part that they will have to pick up will be good for them," said Terry Burgess of the Portland Group, consultants hired by the district to review the efficiency of its food service program.
Last year, the average meal in District 204 cost $2.70 to make and serve. Under the National School Lunch program, in which 99 percent of all public schools participate, the district would be reimbursed for 37.5 cents of each of those meals and for the entire cost free meals provided to low-income students. If the district can increase participation in its lunch programs to 60 percent, these reimbursements from the federal government could climb up to $800,000.
Right now, though, just 37 percent of the district's elementary students and 49 percent of its secondary students purchase their lunches from the program. The rest "brown bag" it.
The buses
The opening of new schools and the new bus routes that will need to be determined is another reason to postpone the bidding of a new bus service contract, school officials said.
"Next year, we're opening up Metea Valley High School, and we're opening up Fischer Middle School," Holm said. "And the complexity of that requires a lot more from us on the bid. So it is actually better for us to have that extra year to bid on it."
Consequently, District 204 will simply extend its current contract for transportation services with First Student by a year. The terms of this deal will increase the cost of the contract by 3.6 percent.
This contract extension increases that fuel costs cap to $2.25, which, noted Holm, would have cost District 204 an extra $75,000 last year.
D204 to focus on lunches
November 11, 2008
By TIM WALDORF twaldorf@scn1.com
First food, then wheels.
That's the plan in Indian Prairie School District 204 - bid food services this year and busing services next.
David Holm, District 204's assistant superintendent for business, said the district considered putting both service contracts out to bid this year, but decided against it.
"Not only is the bidding process demanding," he said, "but if we bid both of them out at the same time, there's potential here to have completely new contractors for both, and that is so much change all at the same time."
So, for a number of reasons, the district decided it should focus its attention on its food service program this year.
Due to increased costs, this program, which is intended to be self-sufficient, actually ran a $546,000 deficit last year. That is why administrators and consultants are recommending that the district join the National School Lunch Program. When its contract with Sodexho expires this year, the district will approve a new deal with a vendor that calls for meals to meet state and federal nutrition guidelines so that additional revenue will be sent District 204's way.
That will mean students will no longer be able to purchase just "junk food." Some fruits and vegetables will have to be included in their purchases.
"It will be a good thing for the students because the part that they will have to pick up will be good for them," said Terry Burgess of the Portland Group, consultants hired by the district to review the efficiency of its food service program.
Last year, the average meal in District 204 cost $2.70 to make and serve. Under the National School Lunch program, in which 99 percent of all public schools participate, the district would be reimbursed for 37.5 cents of each of those meals and for the entire cost free meals provided to low-income students. If the district can increase participation in its lunch programs to 60 percent, these reimbursements from the federal government could climb up to $800,000.
Right now, though, just 37 percent of the district's elementary students and 49 percent of its secondary students purchase their lunches from the program. The rest "brown bag" it.
The buses
The opening of new schools and the new bus routes that will need to be determined is another reason to postpone the bidding of a new bus service contract, school officials said.
"Next year, we're opening up Metea Valley High School, and we're opening up Fischer Middle School," Holm said. "And the complexity of that requires a lot more from us on the bid. So it is actually better for us to have that extra year to bid on it."
Consequently, District 204 will simply extend its current contract for transportation services with First Student by a year. The terms of this deal will increase the cost of the contract by 3.6 percent.
This contract extension increases that fuel costs cap to $2.25, which, noted Holm, would have cost District 204 an extra $75,000 last year.