Saline Schools Considers Management of Ypsilanti Schools Food Services

The Saline Area Schools food service department will begin managing food services for Ypsilanti Public Schools if Saline’s Board of Education approves a motion recommended by Superintendent Scot Graden at Tuesday’s meeting at Liberty School.

According to a memo from Graden to the board, the agreement would provide Saline Area Schools with $60,000 annually for its food service fund.

In August, Ypsilanti Superintendent Dedrick Martin approached Graden about having Saline provide food services management for Ypsilanti for 2012-13. Ypsilanti had been using the private management company of Chartwell to provide the service. Graden investigated options with the  district’s central office team, Food Services Manager Julie Harsh and with staff from the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. An agreement was drafted with the help of Thrun Law Firm.

According to Graden, the deal will require the district bump Harsh from a 220-day employee to a 260-day employee. A contracted assistant would also be hired. The extra expense would be paid from the food service fund.

At Tuesday’s meeting, school board will also take up:

·         A report on pay-to-participate fees. Click here for more.

·         Recorded school board meetings. Trustee David Zimmer will report on options for broadcasting school board meetings. Options have included setting up Liberty School’s Media Center for broadcasting or having meetings at Saline City Hall, which is equipped with a broadcasting facility.

·         Pledge a Allegiance. One of the first orders of business of the new school board was to investigate having the Pledge of Allegiance said in the schools. The plan, presented by Trustee David Holden, received mixed reaction for students. The board’s plan stalled because it was believed the state was moving ahead with related legislation.

·         Graden will lead a discussion on the board’s strategic planning.

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