Considering an updated proposal from the District's administrative team, the Board of Education at its June 27, 2016 meeting decided that the current PTO/A lunch program would be continued for 2016-17, with modifications.
New requirements include:
- Enhanced oversight - A District 64 employee licensed as an Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager will be added to work with PTO/A parent volunteers to ensure compliance with safe food rules and regulations.
- Liability insurance - Food vendors selected by the individual PTO/As for 2016-17 must provide proof of liability insurance as required by the District’s insurance cooperative.
- Inspections - Food vendors must continue to pass food safety inspections required by the City of Park Ridge.
As a result of this decision, each school PTO/A may continue to offer hot lunch for the number of days their parent community would support for the coming school year.
Looking ahead, the Board also directed administration to competitively bid daily food service to begin with the 2017-18 school year for all five elementary schools as well as our two middle schools. The goal would be to provide uniform menus, availability and pricing across all schools, and at the elementary level to eliminate dependence on volunteers and further enhance food safety and quality.
This competitive bidding process will be conducted during the upcoming fall/winter. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
In an email message to elementary school families, Superintendent Laurie Heinz offered her thanks "for their interest and support as we work together to expand the opportunities for families to provide children with a safe, high quality and nutritious hot lunch each day to support student learning."