Alternative Management Strategies for School Cafeteria Operations
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Transcript of Alternative Management Strategies for School Cafeteria Operations
Alternative Management Strategies for School Cafeteria OperationsA 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