Waukegan Schools Take a Bite Out of Food Service Issues

In Waukegan, the school district is trying to improve how food is served to students. There's a new app that lets students order meals ahead of time. This app is supposed to make things easier and reduce waste. But some school board members are worried because the app was promised two years ago and only now is being tested. The app is being tested with a small group of students. Soon, it will be available to all students at Washington and Brookside campuses of Waukegan High School. Middle school students will get it early next year. The school board wants to make sure that the company providing the food, Sodexo, keeps its promises. They want to hold the company accountable. Board member Rick Riddle asked how the district will make sure the food company does what it says. The board is voting on hiring Walker Quality Services to help choose the best food vendor. This company will also help make sure the vendor follows through on its promises. Board member Carolina Fabian has concerns about the app. She wants to know if it will be easy for students and families to use. She also wants to make sure students with food allergies or special diets are taken care of. Fabian is worried that these students might not get the food they need by the time they reach the lunch line. LeBaron Moten, the deputy superintendent, said the district is taking steps to make sure students get the food they order. He mentioned that Sodexo will keep the food aside until the end of the lunch period. This way, students won't run out of the food they ordered. Fabian also asked about how students and families will learn about the app. Moten said there will be signs in the schools, especially near the lunch lines. This way, students will see the information when they are getting their meals. Moten explained that hiring Walker Quality Services will help the district make a better choice for the food vendor. This company will also help train district staff to evaluate the vendor's performance. Moten said the extra help is necessary to make sure the food service program runs smoothly. Some board members wondered why the district can't handle the evaluation and training on its own. Moten said the extra support will make the process more efficient. He also mentioned that Walker Quality Services is familiar with the district's needs, having conducted a survey of Sodexo's performance.