Gary school food vendor may be ousted
Source: BY SHARLONDA L. WATERHOUSE, Post-Tribune (IN), June 19, 2008
The Sodexho food services contract extension, slated for a Tuesday vote by the Gary School Board, would give the company a slight increase of just under $1,000 in its fees and a few other privileges. The contract gives Sodexho an exclusive first look and first right of refusal at any school district catering event -- a benefit it did not have last year -- that could bring it more money. Under the proposed contract, Sodexho would no longer be responsible for removing its garbage. That responsibility would switch to the district. The district would get more flexibility to retain unlimited food workers. Last year, only five could be retained.
....... School Board President Nellie Moore said the district's lack of savings this year and Sodexho's $95,000 deficit confirmed her original resistance to outsourcing food services in 2007. She is pushing to open the bidding process to other companies.
..... If no company is in place by August, the district would have the burden of running its own food services program.
...... Of concern to some is the fact that perks promised to students by Sodexho, such as a scholarship program, has not yielded any awards.