School To Privatize Lunch Program

BOSTON -- With many school lunch programs affected by rising gas and food prices, some school districts are looking at having private companies provide lunches as a way to save money, but that move is sparking concerns among food service workers in some towns.

The Leominster school committee is looking at privatizing its food service program to save money.

“We spend $300,000 a year to support our food service program,” said Nadine Binkley, Leominster school district’s superintendent. “We are investigating that maybe a private company would be able to keep the cost lower.”

Some food-service employees, however, said they think it's not a good idea.

“Our food service hasn’t run in red in 20 years,” said Jennifer Taralli, president of the union representing food-service employees. “I don’t see any reasons we should change to a private company. Why fix something that already works?”

Taralli said food service staffer’s health insurance is the cost that school wants to cut.

She suggested that schools raise the cost of lunches first to see if that makes a difference. Taralli said she believes the lunch prices will have to go up no matter who runs the lunch program as a result of increasing fuel and flour prices.

She also said she is not sure a private company would care about the children as much the school’s food service program currently does.

“We now have to have three main foods on their tray every day, plus dessert, fruits and drink,” said Taralli. “There’s no guarantee that the kids would get the food they are having now.”

Binkley, however, said if the school chooses to use a private company, the food quality would have to meet the same standard.

Binkley said the school is still in an investigation stage and no final decision has been made.

“Our lunch in the fall will still be the same price at $2.25,” said Binkley. “But we might have to raise the price, because of the high fuel and flour prices.”