Alternative Management Strategies for School Cafeteria Operations

1. Alternative Management Strategies for School Cafeteria Operations A recipe for success!

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Problem Solving

10. My Problem-Solving Matrix

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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