Sewanhaka to serve up new school menus

Matt Grech

Students in the Sewanhaka school district will soon see a change in their lunchrooms thanks to a new food service provider, Superintendent Ralph Ferrie announced Tuesday.  

The district has agreed to begin using new cafeteria and food services provided by Whitsons Food Services. The new program will begin on Jan. 4. 

“We anticipate some really positive changes for students,” Ferrie said. “During the last five years, working with student groups throughout the five schools, one of the consistent themes students have brought forward regularly is they wanted to see changes in the lunch room.”

Ferrie said the district has determined that lunch counts have been steadily declining over the past several years and if the trend continues the district would have to subsidize the cost of the school lunch program.

The program will allow the district to customize and provide different lunch menus throughout the district to cater to students at each school.

“The advantage of having a group like this come from the outside to manage a program is they have tremendous purchasing power,” Ferrie said. “They provide variety of menu options. They’re going to do some work in terms of signage and of a different atmosphere within the organization.”

The district’s current commitment with Whitsons runs from January to June. 

Ferrie said the board will assess the program monthly, and complete a final assessment to determine further continuation after the school year.

The new contract will not affect school lunch prices, Ferrie said.

School board President David T. Fowler said while Whitsons was the lowest bidder, the district has done a tremendous amount of research to ensure the services will reverse the trend of declining numbers and receive positive feedback.

Whitsons Food Services are already been utilized by a number of local districts on Long Island. 

Ferrie said the students “had the approach that when they see it, they will believe it.”

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