Saugus schools food pact out to bid

SAUGUS – Sam Rippin, Executive Director of Finance and Operations for Saugus schools, said he’s hoping to have his “socks knocked off” when bids are put out for a new food service company in March.Rippin met Thursday with School Committee members Rick Doucette and Corinne Riley in a Food Service Subcommittee meeting to discuss the issue.”My hope, and even with (current food service company) Chartwells, is that the people who aren’t incumbents will be aggressive with their proposals,” said Rippin. “I’m expecting to see some interesting concepts with menus, types of foods, layout. I want Chartwells to approach it like they’re an outsider as well and be aggressive.”Chartwells ran into trouble in the past for running up deficits, said Rippin, but this year Rippin noted he’s expecting to at least break even at the end of this school year or even finish with a slight surplus.”I’m pleased,” said Rippin. “(Chartwells) is certainly trying hard and doing everything we’ve asked them to do. Last year we only lost $7,000 which they absorbed. Financials are improving greatly and we expect to break even.”Rippin said Chartwells’ current contract is valued at around $1 million per year, with the school taking in a little more than $900,000 in revenue in 2011. He expects to take in around $950,000 for this year.Riley said the meeting was “very productive” and noted that operating costs are down from last year.”About $5,000 better than last year,” said Riley.Rippin noted that school lunch participation has been steady at around 50 percent over the last several years.”We raised the prices 10 cents because we’re required to under the Healthy Kids Hunger Free Act,” said Rippin. “Where normally you do a price increase you see a dramatic drop. That we haven’t seen. Ideally I’d like to see a 60 percent district-wide increase and we’re working toward that.”Despite the optimism, Rippin said he’s still required to put out bids at the end of every contract.”Chartwells is fine, but it’s a process you have to go through,” said Rippin. “Every three years we have to go out for a request for proposal for a food service management company.Calls to Chartwell were not returned Friday.Matt Tempesta may be reached at [email protected].