Salem: Parents' group wants to stop plan to privatize school lunch program

By Amanda McGregor
Staff writer

February 21, 2008 08:26 am

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SALEM — A group of parents is hoping to stop a proposal to privatize school lunches, saying it could mean less personalized service for their children, decreased food quality and the end of school-kitchen partnerships with parents' groups.

Superintendent William Cameron Jr. said earlier this month that the schools have put out a request for proposals for private companies interested in taking over the school food services, which has been running a deficit for years.

So far this year, the school food program has spent $125,000 more than it has taken in, according to a report from school business manager John Danizio.

But parent Cindy Theriault said some other solution should be found to the financial problems.

"I understand that the numbers are important, but that's not about the kids," said Theriault, a parent at Horace Mann Laboratory School. "The lunch ladies in Salem have worked here an average of 15 years. They know every single kid and their allergies."

Theriault is a member of a group of parents that has been meeting with food service director Maria Barker since last year. The parent group plans to raise the issue at Monday's School Committee meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at Collins Middle School.

Privatization is not a sure thing. Proposals from vendors are due March 6, according to Cameron. Three interested vendors turned out for an information session at the school department last week.

"We're in a serious financial situation," said Cameron, referring to a multimillion dollar school budget deficit that forced nearly three-dozen midyear layoffs across the district. "This is not something we're doing, rubbing our hands with glee at the thought of privatization. But we can't know if this would be an important way to save money if we don't look."

He said several parents and school employees have contacted city officials with concerns about food quality if the program is privatized, and about job security for the current cafeteria workers.

"Those are legitimate concerns," he said.