Food service up but deficit not down
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The food service's department will run a deficit for another year, but the food and the number of students buying the meals is improving, said officials from Chartwell's Dining Services.

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee received an update from Chris Callahan, the district manager of New England, and Dennis Meuller, the local manager of Chartwell's, at their meeting on Tuesday, May 27.

"Your loss is lower than last year but not by much," Callahan said. "It takes more than one year (to establish the program)."

Callahan attributes this to some of upfront costs of bringing in a new program but mainly to a labor issue that was beyond his control. One of the food service workers was out on long-term medical leave and had to be replaced.

The district subcontracted the food service program out last year after the district's program ran in deficit for more than three years. The district has set up the program so that it should be self-sustaining, but in recent years the committee has had to vote to use some of the money from the general fund to offset the cost of running the program.

Last year, the district entered into a contract with Chartwell's for one year, with a two-year additional option.

Supt. Michael Zapantis said the School Committee was going to have to deal with the issue of students not paying for lunches. He said after talking to the principals it became clear that some students owe $40 to $60.

Zapantis said the school system faces the question of when "morally and ethically do you stop providing lunch."

"You never want to send a child without a meal," said Callahan. "It is not the child's issue."

He said this is especially true at the elementary level.

Callahan suggested a simple lunch be created like a cheese sandwich for the children without money. He said the work should come between the food service program, the principal and the parents.

This year Chartwell's did not charge the district a management fee and as part of the program for next year the management fee will be charged. Zapantis said if the food service program does not run a profit next year then Chartwell's will reimburse the management fee to the district.

Callahan said so far they have controlled the cost of products well.

"Given the economic outlook we did a good job," he said. "I don't see gas prices going down at all."

Callahan said the goal for next year is to get more involved in the community, such as more meetings with the high school's student council and the health advisory boards in all the schools.

One of the changes Callahan does suggest as a way to increase the number of lunches sold at the high school is to increase the number of lunch periods. He said trying to get all the students through in the two lunch periods is hard.

"I know that goes beyond food services though," he said.

Callahan said they are also looking to start cooking and preparing the lunches for the North Central Essential Charter School in the district. Callahan said this will increase the reimbursement from the federal government and therefore increase the money coming into the district.

School Committee member Jamie Rheult asked if Chartwell's had any plans on making special menus for students with allergies.

"The trend is to adapt thing for these allergies," he said.

In other business:

• The Committee also received their monthly financial update and members were concerned about the shortfall in the area of funding student activities, which were supposed to be fee based this year. Committee member Keith Glenny asked for a detailed breakdown of the costs and the participation levels.

• The Committee voted 8-0 to grant the request of the Class of 2008 to dedicate Room 603 in Oakmont Regional High School as the Reponen Laboratory, in honor of retired teacher David Reponen.

Reponen was a full-time science teacher at the high school from 1966 to 2006. He then taught part-time for another year and continues to substitute at the school.

• Rheult said he would like a future discussion on having the district offer driver's education courses. Committee members agreed to take it up during the summer.