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First Posted: 6/2/2014
HANOVER TWP. — Hanover Area School Board on Monday night named Metz Culinary Management as food service manager for the district.
The contract will be for a term beginning July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, with four additional one-year terms through 2019, pending the approval of the state Department of Education.
Still in negotiations, however, according to district Superintendent Andrew Kuhl is the issue of whether food service workers will continue to work directly for the School District or for Metz.
A timeline for that decision was not provided at Monday’s night’s regular meeting. As a personnel matter, it will be discussed in executive sessions.
Following a state mandate, the district sought proposals from several food service vendors, with its contract with current vendor, Aramark, expiring at the end of this month.
The district received proposals from Aramark, Metz and Nutrition Inc.
The three proposals included district profit figures based on two scenarios: If the company provides only food service, and if the company provides food service as well as taking on the district’s food service workers.
For the first time ever, the food service companies promised a guaranteed profit for the first year of the contract. Metz guaranteed to pay the district $175,000, with Nutrition Inc. and Aramark guaranteeing $172,000 and $140,000, respectively.
Many district food service workers have voiced concerns about changes in the structure of the food service employee system, fearing that change would mean a reduction in compensation or benefits.
Board members have emphasized the need to provide quality food to its students while being cognitive of cost and being fair to employees.
In another matter, the board approved the tabulation of the tax anticipation note quotations, in an amount not to exceed $1.5 million, effective July 1.
Business Manager Tom Cipriano said the execution of the note would be necessary only if the state failed to pass its budget in a timely way, making it necessary for the district to access additional funds to meet expenses through July. The deadline for the state’s budget is June 30.
In another matter, the board recognized its varsity baseball team, Wyoming Valley Conference champions and District II AA runner-ups.
Head baseball coach Mike Zapotoski credited players with excellence both on and off the field. He also lauded assistant coaches Sean McLaughlin, Brandon Salvatore and Steve Sulcoski, “who made this successful season possible.”
Board members thanked the players present at the meeting for their commitment to the sport and to their high school.
“This district encompasses academics, creativity, and athletics in the best way possible,” said Kuhl.
Seniors Emily Rinehimer and Dominic Gagliardi were named students of the month, and board members lauded their successful endeavors throughout their tenure at the district.
Rinehimer thanked the district for her current achievements and for the ability to confidently move forward towards new accomplishments.
Gagliardi, valedictorian of his class, fondly remembered being part of the soccer team and being motivated to do his very best.
In another matter, Cipriano told attendees despite a relatively high real estate tax millage rate, the district actually collects one of the lowest amount of taxes in Luzerne County.
The next regular school board meeting will be on Aug. 7.