Please read this article (http://dcfoodforall.com/2011/10/finally-revealed-processed-food-rebates-dominate-school-cafeterias/) and contact your school board rep to find out what OKCPS (same number of students as DC Public Schools) is doing to make sure we aren't being taken advantage of. We use Chartwells and pay a flat fee for their services. Did you know that the head of OKCPS Child Nutrition Services is an employee of Chartwells, not OKCPS?
Find your school board rep here: http://okcps.schooldesk.net/BoardofEducation/tabid/1625/Default.aspx
Write them a letter:
Subject: Chartwells in the News
After reading this article http://dcfoodforall.com/2011/10/finally-revealed-processed-food-rebates-dominate-school-cafeterias/ , and recognizing the inherent conflict of interest in having an employee of a for-profit company head our CNS program, I am concerned that we might be falling prey to a similar numbers game (DC Public Schools has almost the same number of students as OKCPS). How do we make sure the prices we pay for school food consider any and all rebates? Rebates make for slippery accounting, and require strong controls (e.g. an OKCPS employee, not a Chartwells employee, reviewing CNS purchasing) to make sure we are spending the maximum funds on quality food for our students. It is my understanding that we pay Chartwells a flat fee per meal served as opposed to having a 'cost reimbursable' contract. If I am mistaken, please correct me.
Another point the article makes is that rebates play into the choice of products our students are served. Food conglomerates make their profit through processing and packaging, not from selling quality food. The highest rebates are therefore offered on the least fresh, least nutritious food. Do we have a firm grasp on how Steve Gallagher is compensated by Chartwells, and what incentives he might have to purchase foods that are high in sugar and low in fiber and nutrients (cookies/danish for breakfast)?
I trust that each of you has our students' best interests at heart; that is why you do what you do for the district. I would appreciate a reply to satisfy me that OKCPS is not losing this rebate game.
Find your school board rep here: http://okcps.schooldesk.net/BoardofEducation/tabid/1625/Default.aspx
Write them a letter:
Subject: Chartwells in the News
After reading this article http://dcfoodforall.com/2011/10/finally-revealed-processed-food-rebates-dominate-school-cafeterias/ , and recognizing the inherent conflict of interest in having an employee of a for-profit company head our CNS program, I am concerned that we might be falling prey to a similar numbers game (DC Public Schools has almost the same number of students as OKCPS). How do we make sure the prices we pay for school food consider any and all rebates? Rebates make for slippery accounting, and require strong controls (e.g. an OKCPS employee, not a Chartwells employee, reviewing CNS purchasing) to make sure we are spending the maximum funds on quality food for our students. It is my understanding that we pay Chartwells a flat fee per meal served as opposed to having a 'cost reimbursable' contract. If I am mistaken, please correct me.
Another point the article makes is that rebates play into the choice of products our students are served. Food conglomerates make their profit through processing and packaging, not from selling quality food. The highest rebates are therefore offered on the least fresh, least nutritious food. Do we have a firm grasp on how Steve Gallagher is compensated by Chartwells, and what incentives he might have to purchase foods that are high in sugar and low in fiber and nutrients (cookies/danish for breakfast)?
I trust that each of you has our students' best interests at heart; that is why you do what you do for the district. I would appreciate a reply to satisfy me that OKCPS is not losing this rebate game.
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