GCD School District signs with meal manager

The Grand Coulee Dam School District approved a five-year contract Monday night with Chartwell Food Service of Wenatchee, but has its eye on doing the food program within the district sometime in the future.

The five-year contract will allow the district to opt out after any given year with a 30-day advance notice. Chartwell has been providing food service management to the district for the past five years.

The board appointed Susan Chaffee and Carla Marconi to do a study on the benefits, if any, of the district managing its own food service.

If the district decides to go its own way, it would have to begin planning the menus for the different age goups.

Chartwell’s price for the 2014-15 school year will be $353,674, the same as the current year. All but about $20,000 is paid by the district for food, personnel and other costs. The $20,000 is for managing the program.

The board also approved increases in the school lunch program. Most lunches will go up 10 cents, with the junior/senior high going up 15 cents.

Breakfast at all schools will be $1.70, up 10 cents; lunch at the elementary will be $2.30 up 10 cents; and adults will be $3.60, up 10 cents.