School Food Service Names New Director, Changes Pushed Forward

By Larissa Lytwyn

In the wake of allegations by several school cafeteria workers of employee/management tensions, Brian Reynolds, senior director of Chartwells’ dining services in the Newtown district, was recently reassigned to a new school system.

Serving as interim director is Tom Burke, who officially began his position on November 8.

“Mr Burke will serve in the position until a final replacement is announced,” said John Prunier, district manager of Chartwells. “We would like to have someone permanent in the position by January 1, 2005.”

The hiring process begins with an internal search through the company, Mr Prunier explained. If no acceptable candidate is identified, the search will be brought “to the outside”

Mr Burke, a resident of North Andover, Mass., is also a potential candidate, Mr Prunier said. If hired, Mr Burke would have to relocate closer to Newtown, which is about a three-hour drive from North Andover.

Mr Burke previously served as Chartwells’ dining services director for the Newton, Mass., public school system. He is currently staying at an area hotel Monday through Friday and driving home on the weekends.

As for Mr Reynolds, said Mr Prunier, sometimes there just isn’t that ideal “fit.”

Still, Mr Prunier said, “[Mr Reynolds] has long been a valued member of Chartwells [management] and he is still in good standing with the company.”

The change in management is part of the company’s ongoing effort to increase communication, a key piece of its initial presentation to the district, said school board member David Nanavaty during the board’s last meeting on November 16.

Business Director Ron Bienkowski reminded fellow board members that under United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines, districts were mandated to hear bids from new food service companies every five years.

The district’s last food service company, Sodexho, had lost revenue during the last two of its five-year contract. In addition, Mr Bienkowski announced that the district owed Sodexho between $60,000 and $70,000. He said he was unclear, at this point, on where the debt had precisely come from.

Board Secretary Andy Buzzi said that the board should immediately consider meeting with the district’s attorneys.

“Before we lose $60,000 to $70,000,” he said, “let’s see if these losses were due to negligence [on the part of Sodexho] and are recoverable!”

This sentiment was strongly echoed by the rest of the board, including Chairman Elaine McClure.

“[$60,000 to $70,000] is a lot of money,” she said grimly. “What would happen if we had stayed with Sodexho [this year]?”

Mr Bienkowski explained that the losses would be “carried over” for the duration of the would-be contract, though costs could possibly have been slightly offset by fresh Sodexho revenue.

Regarding Chartwells’ ongoing problems with some district cafeteria workers, students, and parents, Mr Bienkowski said that the company is “committed” to ironing out the problems.

He pointed out how Mr Prunier (and most recently Mr Burke) had attended several consecutive board meetings in an effort to keep communication lines open and receptive.

Earlier in the evening, Newtown High School PTSA representative Joan Piscitelli gave board members, as well as Mr Bienkowski, the results of a student survey that in part addressed Chartwells’ service.

The feedback was part of the school’s monthly “advisory” meetings that gives students the opportunity to express their thoughts on a number of issues, from logistical to academic.

Across the grade levels, students complained that the food quality was consistently poor, served in too small portions, and too expensive.

“I think what needs to be understood here is that Sodexho and Chartwells have somewhat different philosophies,” said Mr Bienkowski. “Chartwells is really focused on providing a wide selection of foods with nutritional value, as well as meeting government recommendations for proper portion size.”

While some a la carte items may have higher prices than students have expected, he said, the main meal is still the same cost as it was last year. In addition, “Students can go up for more portions if they want to,” he said, “at no cost.” There are plans to more clearly post this in district cafeterias.

This past June, Governor M. Jodi Rell signed into law Public Act 4-224, “An Act Concerning Childhood Nutrition in Schools, Recess and Lunch Breaks.”

As of last July 1, local and regional boards of education must offer all full-day students at least 20 minutes for lunch, include physical activity periods for students in kindergarten through grade five and “make available” a wide choice of low-fat milk, 100 percent fruit juices, and water “at all times when drink is available for purchase” and low-fat dairy products and fresh or dried fruit at all times when food is available for purchase during the regular school day.

Mr Nanavaty said he has visited Newtown High School and spoken with numerous teens, including his own high school-aged son, about Chartwells.

“There have been some changes,” he concurred, “which can cause concern for people. Change is not always easy.”

He said that certain vendors of high-fat products, as well as soda vendors, are no longer available.

“Students miss the Subway sandwiches, although Chartwells offers sandwiches of the same quality, just without the brand-name,” he said.

Mr Bienkowski suggested students and parents meeting with Chartwells management to “hash out” their issues and “put their arms around an issue” that he characterized as, in some ways, quite subjective.

Ms Piscitelli lauded this suggestion, noting that Mr Bienkowski had “finally given some answers” after months of student and staff difficulty adjusting to Chartwells.