Food service continues to be the most frequently contracted service, with 172 districts using private contractors. Twelve new districts contracted out food service this year.
Graphic 2: Districts Contracting Food Service
The number of
districts contracting out for food service was stable for the 2007 to 2009
surveys. This year’s survey found that this trend was broken as
4.9 percent more districts contracted out for this service.
The new contracts for
food services are expected to save Michigan school districts $929,379 this
year. Savings range from $4,280 at the Chassell Township School District to
$563,403 at Rochester Community Schools, and are listed in graphic 3.
The Chassell Township
Schools’ cook and an assistant retired and came back through Good Marks for
Schools, and the district expects to save $4,280 from the move.
Meridian Public
Schools did not provide enough information to obtain a savings number. The district submitted its contractor’s bid, however, which
guarantees that the district will operate its food services with a $49,000
annual surplus.
Swartz Creek Community Schools had one individual overseeing both the food and transportation services. After the employee retired the district rehired her through K-12 Kitchens to continue as the food service manager. The district shifted the transportation oversight duties to a different employee.
Graphic 3
Districts new to food service contracting |
Savings |
Rochester Community Schools |
$563,403 |
Mona Shores Public Schools |
$200,000 |
Inkster Public |
$96,000 |
Kearsley Community Schools |
$28,389 |
Durand Area Schools |
$27,802 |
Crawford Ausable Schools |
$9,505 |
Chassell Township Schools |
$4,280 |
Davison Community Schools |
Insufficient documentation |
Bentley Community Schools |
Insufficient documentation |
Flat Rock Community Schools |
Insufficient documentation |
Meridian Public Schools |
Insufficient documentation |
Swartz Creek Community Schools |
Insufficient documentation |