Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano School District will continue to receive its food service through Taher Inc. after the School Board approved the annual contract Monday by a 7-1 vote.
The district put out a request for proposals, and Minnesota-based Taher was the only company to submit a bid. A’viands, also based in Minnesota, went through a pre-bid walk-through but opted not to bid, according to district business manager Louise Fischer.
In June 2013, the School Board voted to hire A’viands as its food service provider and end its 10-year relationship with Taher, despite a recommendation from an ad-hoc committee to keep Taher. Staff and parents in the school district submitted a petition urging the board to reconsider, and the board voted in July 2013 to stick with Taher.
Fischer said she was uncertain if A’viands’ previous dealings with the district influenced its decision not to bid this year.
Taher’s contract is similar to the current arrangement, but the company will require the district to pay $45,000 for management fees instead of $30,000. The company will also get 3 cents per meal served, which is an incentive to get more students eating school lunches, and the district will reimburse Taher for the salary and fringe benefits paid to food service employees.
Fischer told the board that Taher has provided good service to the district.
“I’m happy they submitted a proposal,” Fischer said. “I would be more concerned if we had a bad food service program and didn’t get any interest from other vendors.”
Fischer said that there has not been a decline in meals served at Shawano schools due to new U.S. Department of Agriculture rules about a la carte items, even though one had been anticipated.
“The kids are eating, and I’ve noticed first-hand from Taher the things they’re doing to aggressively bring in new menu items and things for kids to taste and keep their interest,” Fischer said. “It’s not just macaroni and cheese and pizza.”
Although the contract is for one year, the district will not be required by the state to send out a proposal request for another five years.
Board member Derek Johnson voted against the contract, expressing concern about whether the district was making enough money off the school meals.