Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools Select Whitsons Food Nutrition
The Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools decided to accept the proposal of Whitsons Food Nutrition as its food service vendor . Rob Detweiler, Director of Finance and Operations, announced at the March 25 School Committee meeting that Whitsons will provide breakfast, lunch, and other food service operations for the schools beginning July 1, 2008. Mr. Detweiler stated, "The Food Service Sub-Committee worked diligently to prepare a Request For Proposals that reflected the desires of the community. After many hours spent reading the proposals and careful deliberation, the committee came to the conclusion that Whitsons Food Nutrition would be the best match for Amherst."
Whitsons, a family owned business from Islandia, New York, has several food service contracts in Connecticut and New York. Elaine Brighty, Regional School Committee chairperson and chair of the Food Services sub-committee, stated, "Whitsons received marks of "highly advantageous" from every member on practically every criteria we used to rank the proposals from food service providers—from nutrition, healthy food and ingredients, commitment to use local produce, and diversity of menus, to human resources and employee training, management expertise, operational policies, and availability of support personnel."
Marianne Jorgensen, School Committee and Food Services sub-committee member, noted that "Whitsons is open to buying locally grown produce, values their employees, and will be responsive to the community needs. They emphasize the use of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, foods that are low fat, and are without trans fats or high fructose corn syrup (they even keep it out of their catsup), and they will offer a wider variety of vegetarian and ethnic fare."
The terms of the agreement are still being finalized. As identified in the Request for Proposals, Whitsons will employ all Amherst food service employees within the next two years. The company has agreed to pay all employees at their current salary and will provide additional benefits not provided by the school district.
In August 2007, the Regional School Committee formed the Food Services sub-committee, which included school committee members, parents, and Mr. Detweiler, to research food service operations, survey the community, and to develop the Request For Proposals. Ms. Jorgensen stated, "The company put on such an effective presentation, and great food, the night they came to the school. You could feel their caring, family-oriented approach and the dedication to offering an alternative, healthy approach to school lunches."
Regional School Committee Approves Legislative Action Statement
Last night, the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee voted unanimously to approve the following legislative action statement on state funding for local schools and special education.
The statement was developed by the district's Legislative Action Committee, which includes parents, teachers, staff and Superintendent Jere Hochman. Community members are encouraged to contact our local legislatures to urge them to support the actions requested in the statement. A list of contact information is attached.
Amherst-Pelham Regional School District
Statement on State Funding for Local Schools and Special Education
We, in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, have always valued our schools and worked hard to protect our budget and services. Demands on our schools and expectations for improved educational services for all children have never been higher, creating many pulls on a school budget. The largest and fastest growing are the costs associated with special education. Even with legally allowable increases in local taxes, towns across the Commonwealth cannot close the gap between services needed for special education and those required for general educational needs. As a result, segments of our communities are pitted against one another according to their children's needs for educational services. This has created an untenable situation, leading to cuts in services for all students.
The necessary solution for funding education must come through the state budget. Our town has stepped up to address financial needs and will continue to explore options. But to level the playing field for children in all towns, the State must respond. Many of our proposals benefit all children regardless of zip code. For example, according to Massachusetts Chapter 70 legislation, the Commonwealth sets a foundation budget that insures all children will receive an adequate education. However, the reality is that Chapter 70 is inadequate and does not cover the current cost of special education. Circuit breakers put in place to help schools manage exceptionally high special education costs do not kick in at a low enough threshold; and schools are only partially reimbursed at 72% for expenses above the circuit breaker cut-off.
The teachers, parents, administrators, and concerned citizens of Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury, Massachusetts call on our legislators to make the following changes immediately:
1) Reduce the special education circuit breaker threshold from $35,000 to $20,000 per child and increase state support for expenses above this threshold from the current reimbursement rate of 72% to 100%;
2) Reduce charter school tuition to bring it into alignment with school choice expenses;
3) Include transportation for special education in the foundation budget and fully fund Regional Transportation.
In addition, we call on our legislators to explore the following propositions for serious consideration in FY10:
4) Set a minimum floor of $3,000 per child in Chapter 70 aid to ensure equity for districts across the Commonwealth;
5) Increase the state income tax by 0.5% to be divided on a per capita basis to all children in schools. This would cover the $3,000 per child Chapter 70 floor;
6) Increase funding for the School Building Authority so more districts can benefit more quickly; and
7) Connect Extended Learning Time funds to Chapter 70 to provide stability, and modify requirements to eliminate the "all or nothing" requirement.
We call on our state legislators to examine the formula for Chapter 70 and Special Education funding to find a satisfactory long-term solution that will not pit students with differing needs against one another. We call on our state legislators to examine this proposal on the basis of fairness and equity and what is right and good for children.
Legislative Action Committee Participants:
Tom Fricke, ARHS Teacher
Jere Hochman, Superintendent of Schools
Mary Jo Mafi, Parent
Laura Wenk, Parent
Debbie Westmoreland, Assistant to the Superintendent
Statement approved by Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, March 25, 2008.
Attachment:
Legislator Contact Information