District

changes

food

service

Decision based on mandated bid

assessment mechanism

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The District 88 Board of Education Thursday awarded a one-year contract, with a four-year renewal option, to Chartwells food service company, ending a similar agreement with its current food service partner, Aramark.

The new arrangement will translate into a per-meal cost of $1.80, which compares to $1.60 per meal offered by Aramark and $.90 offered by a third bidder, Taher, Inc.

School administrators and board members emphasized that the decision was a result of a state-prescribed bid assessment mechanism -- which evaluates each bid according to a set of criteria, rather than just cost.

According to this mechanism, the cost per meal accounts for only 60 percent of the bidder's total score -- the remaining 40 percent depending on points scored in categories such as references, past performance, plans to improve performance, technological backup and number of years in business, explained Superintendent Harold Remme and Business Manager Donna Luhring. Chartwells outperformed its two competitors on most counts, garnering the highest overall score, the officials said.

Officials and board members alike were quick to stress that the board decision was not intended as a statement on Aramark -- it was, rather, a result of a strictly legal process.

The local officials did, however, raise a few questions with an Aramark representative in attendance -- inquiring about that company's intentions to explore possibilities for a contract with New Ulm Catholic Schools -- and any intended potential use of District 88 facilities and employees if such a contract is signed.

Local board members also expressed concern that Aramark may be factoring efficiencies resulting from not-as-yet-signed contracts into its bid; and that it might relocate current District 88 Food Service Manager Julie Ahlbrecht if it chooses, as indicated, to trim costs by sharing her among Aramark accounts.

Speaking for Aramark, Regional District Manager J.C. Arce called on the board to not turn its back on "10 years of unquestionable performance".

He said Aramark's exploration of other contract opportunities was part of brainstorming intended "to split costs and pass the benefits" onto District 88. Arce apologized for any actions that may be seen as involving "poor judgement" or "bad timing." He declined to further discuss his take on the board's action with The Journal.

Because all food service employees except Ahlbrecht are employed directly by District 88, she is the only employee affected by the switch. In what audience members described as a gesture of recognition for Ahlbrecht, the meeting was attended by more than a dozen food service staff.

In other business:

* The board trimmed $42,008 off the administration annex budget. The cuts were made by charging parts of administrators' salaries to community education and food service funds, reducing supplies and expenses, and assigning some custodial duties to non-custodial staff.

Board member Steve Wachter voted against the cuts, saying staff should not be asked to assume duties outside of their area of expertise. But other board members pointed out that cost-saving reassignments (e.g. teachers cleaning classrooms) are already in place at other school district sites.

* Approved the termination or non-renewal of non-tenured teaching contracts, which, combined with retirements, reassignments and overload elimination, will result in cutting the equivalent of more than 10 full-time jobs. Officials reiterated that these cuts reflect enrollment declines and program cuts, and that some staff members may later be offered smaller contracts.