Alternative Management Strategies for School Cafeteria OperationsA recipe for success!

Historical Highlights• 1988 Great Valley School District

– Met Barb Nissel• 1991 Penn Delco School District

– Contracted Food Service Operations– RFP and award to new third-party administrator

• Removed the High School from the National School Lunch Program

• 1994 Octorara Area School District– District Operated Food Service Department

• Introduced breakfast program in elementary schools

• 2001 Kennett Consolidated School District– District Operated Food Service Department

• Point of Sale System• Summer Program• Breakfast in all Buildings• Contracted Management in September 2008

Our Operation– Excellent Foundation of Trained Professionals

• Director (1)• Cafeteria Managers (6)• Administrative Assistant (1)• Cafeteria Workers (28)

– Student Population 4,200• 34% Free/Reduced• Ethnically Diverse • Socio-Economically Diverse

– 6 Buildings• High School, Middle School, 3 Elementary Schools, and Kindergarten Center

– Annual Food Service Budget $1.7 M– Three Consecutive Years (2005-2008)

• (Maximum Deficit $111,000 in 2007-2008

Prompts for Change

• Third Party Intervention• Financial Efficiencies• Lack of Internal Skills• Exit Strategy• Delegation or Renegade Action• Project-Based Change• Crisis

The Situation

• July 4, 2008 – Unexpected Tragedy• Dealing With Adversity – Don’t Panic– Communicate– Collaborate– Analyze – Develop short-term and long-term strategies– Implement– Evaluate – Reward

Develop Interim Solution

• Goal # 1 - Avoid Critical Failure– Staffing, Supplies, Computer Operations,

Reporting, Accounting• Goal # 2 – Temporary Administration– Professional Network• Peers and Colleagues• PASBO Connection• Neighboring Schools• Vendors

Interim Solution

• Marie Wickersham, Supervisor of Food Services at Unionville-Chadds Ford School District– Volunteered her services– Superintendent and Business Administrator

authorization• Increased Cafeteria Managers’ Hours

Develop Long-Term Solution• Old Theory of Thinking

– "My mom made two dishes: Take it or Leave it." -- Stephen Wright

• Two Schools of Thought– District-Operated– Contracted

• New Theory of Thinking– “Our minds are like our stomachs; they are whetted by the change of their food,

and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.” –Quintilian

• Unlimited Schools of Thought– District-Operated– Contracted– Satellite Operations– Contracted Management– Contracted Worker

Problem Solving

My Problem-Solving Matrix

The Options

• Business as Usual– Post, Advertise, and Replace– Internal and External

• Contract Entire Operation– RFP Process

• Satellite/Partnership • Shared Supervisor of Food Service• Independent Contractor/Consultant

Our Solution

• Independent Contractor– Neighboring Supervisor of Food Services– Two-Year Contract – Authorization from her Employer– Fixed Monthly Fee– Emergency Response– Accessible via Phone and Email

Our Solution• Split the District into two Regions

– North (High School, 1 Elementary, Kindergarten Center)– South (Middle School, 2 Elementary Schools)

• High School and Middle School Managers promoted to Regional Managers– Increase Salary 10% – Enhanced Health Benefits– Supervisory Responsibilities– Daily Staffing Requirements– Food Purchases– POS System

Our Solution

• Regularly Scheduled Coordination Meeting with Consultant and Managers– Typically after work

• Meetings with Director of Business Administration as Needed

• Majority of Correspondence by Email and Telephone

Bottom Line

• Effective Solution– Expert Management Knowledge and Experience– Familiar with County, State, Federal Regulations– Inter-County Connections

• Colleagues, Bidding, Etc.– Growth Opportunities for Employees– Empowers Employees to Expand Knowledge of Operations

• Provides Excellent Cross-Training– Three Consecutive Years of Profit– Renewed 2-Year Consulting Contracting