Another school district contracting out its food service. Pathetic !!!

[European Socialist]

It's happening all over Michigan and probably the USA,too. Working people thrown to the dogs because of budget problems. Were really getting an education from our School Districts about American Values--That is, put the burden on those who can least afford it.

[izzie]

1. Who are doing the jobs and who are putting the workers out?

This was always a pretty good job for women with children still in school. You could come home at the same time and be with your children. I also knew women that started back to work in this field after their children went to school. It was sort of a stepping stone job.

[European Socialist]

2. I forgot to mention they can apply for their old jobs again...

from the contractor at a much lower pay rate. What a deal.

[izzie]

11. Guess another CEO needs a nice 30 million pay out

Hard to believe we got back to the 1880 so fast after Bush got in.

[zehnkatzen]

3. When I was in junior high...

...yeah, we called it "junior high" back then.

Anyway, my 2nd year in, the school district contracted with an outside concern to serve school lunches.

The Monday of the day they started, in the entry to the cafeteria, we were confronted with a sheet cake (apparently for display–we were never served any of it) welcoming us to our own junior high.

Sa'wha'? We were here first!

Big companies have always been arrogant like that...

[chemp]

4. Hey! I resemble that remark!

I work for a "Contract Food Service operation". One of the largest.
We are 75% Union contracts, with wages that reflect the local community.
My first school I was in had nightmare stories from the client and student before we came in.
Processed food in a can. Too many workers per shift, sitting around doing nothing.
We came in, grandfathered ALL employees at the same rate.
Streamlined and updated the menu.
Stopped abuses and unionized.
Students are happier. Client is happier. And we make a profit.

[dipsydoodle]

5. You will eventually conclude that the main issue here

is how the "contractor" got the contract in the first place. Trust me on that - we have similar probelms here with "meal on wheels" for the elderlie which got contracted out. I know that to be so because a friend is a nutritionist with the local council/health authority.

I bet the quality and nutritional value of the food go right down the pan once things have settled in.

This reminds me of school back in the fifties when our year of 200 or so went on strike and all bailed out of our school dinners for a day which were cooked on site. The issues we had with soggy baked potatoes and lumpy custard were corrected the very next day.........lol.

[glowing]

6. An outside company can do it for cheaper because they have more

volume. It doesn't necesarily mean people are being paid less. It does mean in some cases, though, that they will go with the cheapest contract and that means foods with the nutritional value of zero... GMO foods, chemical additives, frozen products---essentially children will be eating like they were eating at McDonald's everyday....

There was this one report that I watched on t.v. about a school district that contracted a company that only used organic foods (and they didn't serve meat). The price tag was the same (I think not serving meat saved them big costs) and the children had less behavioral problems, more energy, were focused in classes, didn't have the big high's and lows that sugar induced diets do. Essentially an at risk school was producing better educational achievments due to the better quality of diet...I guess that saying "you are what you eat" is something to live and learn by.

[Locrian]

7. Cost is not just the only issue

>> An outside company can do it for cheaper because they have more
volume. It doesn't necesarily mean people are being paid less.

"Efficiency" is often thrown around as the reason for lower costs. But most of the time it doesnt take into account the full SOCIAL costs. Corporations exist for one reason: make profits. They do this by externalizing their own costs as much as possible.

They do it for "cheaper" mainly because they buy crap foods as you said.
They have more PROFIT because they pay people less.

The net effect is the kids get screwed. And the previous workers get screwed. And the company makes big $$.

Id like to see the link for the organic / non-meat program. I sure bet it isn't "typical".

[glowing]

10. I'll try to find it.... it was a report featured on one of those specials..

maybe ABC? The reprot was focusing on junk food and schools increased focus on banning soft drinks and etc. even if it means loosing the Pepsi sponosored money.

I thought it was really amazing to see how certain foods have such a profound effect on the eductational process... Violence was down, test scores were rising, teachers saw a night and day effect. I'll try to dig up the report tomorrow. I've got to go to bed tonight.

[glowing]

12. Here are a couple of links...

http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/310_organic_in_schools_entire_article_.cfm

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/05-02/healthy-school-lunch-article.htm


I found some of these links. Its not the one I was thinking of.. but again that was on a t.v. report and I can't even remember the channel I was watching.

[Zywiec]

8. The parents volunteer where my kids go to school

It's a small school of about 600 students, and never seems to have any problem getting people to volunteer a few hours to prepare and serve food. There is one full-time "chef" who runs the operation.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

9. 2nds please!

From the Simpsons TV:

Lisa: Salisbury Balls? Chickenitos? Lunch Lady Doris, do you carry anything that's not made of meat?

Lunch Lady Doris: You could try the meatloaf . . .

[Lars39]

13. Sometimes these companies that are awarded the contracts

stipulate that any time the cafeteria is used,the kitchen must be opened and staffed.
We ran into this problem a few years ago. We wanted to have a meeting in the cafeteria. We didn't want kitchen facilities, we just wanted the open space with the chairs and tables.
We were going to have to pay about $200 for just a few hours.

I'm old enough to remember a time when the schools would allow community groups to meet in the cafeteria or gym free of charge. Nowadays there are very few places that are large enough and cost free for people to meet so that they can organize anything