The Gillett School Board on June 25 renewed its food service contract for the 2015-16 school year with a Minnesota-based company.
For a second year in a row, Taher Inc. will provide meals for students and staff at the elementary and secondary schools. One year ago, the school district agreed to outsource its food service program and entered into a five-year contract with Taher, renewable on a yearly basis.
Administrators recommended a switch to Taher last year because of its efficiency in running food service programs and its experience in meeting food service guidelines for schools, including federal mandates regarding whole grain, calorie counts, serving portions and reporting.
Superintendent Todd Carlson said the district was pleased with the services and meals Taher provided. The district provides breakfast and lunch to students and staff during the school year. In the summer, the district provides free breakfast and lunch for summer school students, plus children in the community up to age 18.
The food service program is run by four school district employees — two full time and two part time — and three part-time Taher employees. As the district employees retire or resign, their replacements will be hired by Taher, allowing the school district to exit from the food service program.
Under terms of the 2014-15 Taher contract, the district was guaranteed not to lose more than $40.15. The district is in the process of closing its fiscal year, and finalized food service numbers for 2014-15 were not available.
The district’s food service account finished in red at the conclusion of the 2010-11 and 2012-13 school years when $13,021 and $5,239, respectively, were transferred to the food service fund to cover expenses, according to figures provided by the school district. Food service showed a profit of $5,239 for 2011-12 and $6,230 for 2013-14.
Terms of the 2015-16 contract have not been finalized, although costs were projected to increase by about $9,000 due to a change in benefits for one district employee. All district employees working in the food service program for the 2013-14 school year remained on the staff for the 2014-15 school year.
