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CLARKS SUMMIT — With Director of Food Services Joanne Pesota set to retire after 35 years, the Abington Heights School District is faced with a decision about how to move forward with the leadership of its cafeterias.
“We will, this year, enter into a transition process,” Abington Heights Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Mahon said. “We are considering two options. The first option is to simply hire a replacement for Pesota, who works for the school district as she has. The second is to outsource the management of the cafeteria. In order to do that, there are many requirements with respect to issuing the Request for Proposals (RFP). We have to go through a process that allows us to come to the best possible decision.”
According to Mahon, the plan is to issue the RFP and review all applications by individuals in early March.
“We’re required to establish a selection committee and we need to have a walk-through with interested vendors at each facility,” Mahon said. “In the end, the final decision is that of the board of education, and a lot of the decision is going to be cost and compliance.”
The deadline for school food service management services to submit a proposal is 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.
In late March, the district will likely interview promising candidates who have applied for the position of Director of Food Services.
The board plans to present a preliminary analysis of bids during the April 1 work session and hopes to make a final decision on how to proceed with cafeteria services during the April 15 regular monthly business meeting.
According to Mahon, there are a few significant downsides to outsourcing management of the cafeterias.
“There will be very significant cutouts that we will have to figure out how to manage that are currently handled by Pesota,” he said. “When we look at the cost analysis, we will have to consider that difference.
“We’re very fortunate because the problems that come up in the cafeteria are handled in the cafeteria,” he added. “If the cafeteria starts to get out of control, it turns into a board issue very quickly and it can slip into a serious problem. This is a high stakes decision that we’re making.”
Abington Heights School Board President Cathy Ann Hardaway suggested asking Pesota for her opinion and expertise on the subject.
“There has been quite a change due to federal mandates in the cafeteria,” Hardaway said. “She’s been around quite a while and may have quite a feel for the evolution of the cafeteria.”
According to Abington Heights Business Manager James Mirabelli, May 1 is the deadline to approve a contract and have it mailed to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.