Alternative Management
Strategies for School
Cafeteria Operations
A 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