SALEM — The schools are searching for a new director to lead the food service program out of its troubles with chronic deficits.
The superintendent did not renew Food Service Director Maria Barker's contract when it expired last week.
"Very shortly, I'm going to be putting together a committee to help me identify the best candidate for the upcoming year," Superintendent William Cameron Jr. said. He told the School Committee Monday that he'll be looking for a candidate, "to get our fiscal house in order in regard to the food service operation."
Salem's school lunch program has received a deluge of community attention since February, when the district began seeking applications from private companies to take over the local operation, which is running at a deficit of more than $600,000.
The superintendent recommended privatizing with a company called Chartwells, but the School Committee voted 6-1 to keep it local, at a lengthy and dramatic public meeting on June 16. The committee was swayed, in part, by parents and union cafeteria workers, who crafted a plan of their own to rescue the program. Some members of that group hope to play a role in hiring the new director.
"We're very optimistic," said Deborah Jeffers, head cook at Horace Mann Laboratory School and vice president of the local Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees Union.
Among its work this summer, Jeffers said she and the parent group are pursuing grants for "farm-to-school" foods to get more fresh fruits and vegetables on the school tables.
"At no charge to the city, we're willing to do stuff to get it going," Jeffers said. "We needed inventories from all the schools, which the workers did on their own time. Everyone really wants to see this succeed."
Cameron said the district will likely begin reviewing applications next week. Committee member Jim Fleming called for a "speedy resolution."
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