South Windsor Schools' Food Service Department Sees Significant Losses

Due to changes in federal law, the South Windsor school district’s Food Service Department has seen a significant decline in sales and a loss in revenue, according to a school official.

Director of Finance and Operations Chris Chemerka said at the May 28 Board of Education meeting that there has been a 21 percent decline in sales this year.

In a memorandum to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kate Carter, Chemerka said that, as a result of the losses, the Food Services Department would not be able to make a $160,000 health care contribution for its employees that was budgeted for this year.

“[I]t would create a negative balance in the account,” Chemerka wrote. In prior years, the Food Service Department would provide such a contribution.

But Chemerka said that “significant losses were incurred September through December [2012].”

In January through March 2013, the department showed a reduction in losses, including two months of profits, according to Chemerka. However, there was another “significant” loss in April.

At the May 14 school board meeting, Director of Food Services Marianne Lopez said that there were numerous challenges that the program faced, including changes to the menu plan that resulted in a reduction in participation.

“Students used to home and restaurant portions noted the smaller portions served” in schools, as well as foods that were not commonly included in their diet, according to Lopez.

In addition, fruit and vegetable costs increased, while the schools were required to add portions to their menus.

All of which conspired to result in the loss in revenue, Lopez said.

Chemerka said that the school district realized early in the school year that this would be a problem, and took several steps to mitigate the loss, including rescinding the offer to provide Food Service Programming to the CREC International Magnet School for Global Citizenship, so the district could focus on its internal needs.

Going forward, Chemerka said that the district would continue to find ways “to increase sales and examine means to reduce costs.”

Chemerka also recommended contracting with an outside food service company to review the South Windsor school district’s Food Service Department.

“The scope of this review would be to provide feedback and recommendations to enhance participation and boost revenues while keeping expenses down,” she said.