Editor, Pickens Sentinel

PICKENS COUNTY - While district officials are exploring contracting out food services with independent vendors, no decision has been made as yet.

"We're hearing that a lot of food service workers are afraid of losing their jobs," said district Director of Communications Julie Thompson. "That is absolutely not the case."

Officials wish to address recent rumors that have contracts have been signed.

"The rumor is out there among some folks that we have actually contracted with outsourcing food services," Thompson said. "That is not the case."

A state audit of the district's food services department revealed some shortcomings, Thompson said.

"Areas that need to be changed," she said.

"There's nothing definite yet," she said. "We're still in the early stages."

Superintendent Lee D'Andrea met with food services staff last week.

"She promised them last year that if we ever got to that point (of exploring outsourcing), she would bring them to the table," Thompson said.

During that meeting, D'Andrea spoke of the need for change, Thompson said.

"Either with reorganization with new leadership or contracting out," Thompson said.

Should the district decide to contract out with a vendor, food services employees will remain employees of the district, Thompson said.

"We value and appreciate our people and we will look after those people," D'Andrea said. "It's the system that needs change."

D'Andrea plans to form four teams to explore options in use in other districts, Thompson said.

"One of those teams will go to a district that operates (food services) internally, like we do now," Thompson said. "The other three will go to districts (that use) one of the three independent vendors that operate in South Carolina."

The thought of contracting out food services leaves a bad taste in some parents' mouths.

"A healthy lifestyle is just an important as learning to read and math for a child's lifetime," said Patty Artune.

Artune has two children at Holly Springs Elementary and one at Pickens Middle School.

"For some kids, this is their only meal of the day," she said. "It shouldn't be full of preservatives and sodium."

To Artune, contracting out food services contradicts the message of ZestQuest, which teaches kids healthy eating habits.

"It's not sending the right message," Artune said. "ZestQuest and what we feed our children should be the same."

Trustee Alex Saitta said officials should look elsewhere to save money.

"Last year district leadership told the board they needed to end the private contracting for lawn maintenance and do it in-house," Saitta said. "Now they want to dump the in-house food service and hire private contractors. Where is the consistency?

"If they wanted to save money, the first place they'd look is the district office," he said. "There are too many administrators making $75,000-plus creating too many rules, programs and calling meetings that are making the typical teacher's job miserable."

Trustee Shirley Jones said while no decision has been made, safety is paramount.

"We're looking at all of the entities of service within the district," she said. "Accountability-wise and standard-wise, this superintendent and her executive team are looking at everything so we are providing a safe and secure environment and meeting all safety standards at all schools," Jones said.

No official proposals have been brought to the board, Jones said.

"Fire safety and food services are part of what we are looking at," she said. "No decisions have been made about food services. Currently, options are being investigated. We're really dedicated to our parents, students and employees and I trust this administration to factor all that in when they make a proposal to us."

Reach Jason Evans at jevans@pickenssentinel.com or 878-2453.