SPS wants to stick with school meal manager Aramark

Springfield Public Schools wants to continue to outsource management of its school meal program to Aramark Corp., a pact that started in 1991.

The district is required to seek bids for the oversight every five years. After reviewing two proposals, it recommended staying the course.

“We are extremely excited to continue moving forward with the partnership with Aramark,” said Travis Shaw, deputy superintendent of operations. “We are very satisfied with the work that they do.”

At the Feb. 24 meeting, the Board of Education will be asked to approve the $8.4 million contract with Aramark for the 2026-27 year. Nearly 84% of the amount is for food and supplies, and Aramark uses local vendors including Springfield Grocer Company, Hiland Dairy Foods Company LLC, and Fellers Fixtures Inc.

“We receive a lot of money back from federal and state reimbursements that offset these costs,” Shaw said. “That is not something the district is out.”

Food expenses include school meals, such as breakfast and lunch, plus juice and milk. The cost has climbed in recent years.

If approved, the new contract will start July 1. No board members indicated opposition to the new contract during the Feb. 10 meeting.

“They have worked really hard, in my opinion, and do a very great job of providing a variety of very nutrition meals,” said board member Shurita Thomas-Tate.

Thomas-Tate said she appreciates the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.

“I appreciate that they are very open to hearing our suggestions,” she said. “When I have had an opportunity to talk to them about what the kids are liking or not liking, they make adjustments to try to find ways to serve kids foods that they will eat and like and that are nutritious.”

Here is how the agreement works: SPS contracts with Aramark, which has an 11-person on-site management team. The team oversees the school meal program and the nutrition service workers, who are district employees.

SPS currently has 206 filled positions and 15 vacancies in nutrition services.

At the Feb. 10 board meeting, Shaw outlined why the district wanted to stay with Aramark:

• Aramark stays ahead of evolving nutrition guidance and supports student health by emphasizing less added sugar, lower sodium and more whole grains.
• Maintained average health inspection rate of 98% with no findings
• Reports only 1.6% waste from food purchases, which is below industry average of 4%
• Regularly surveys students and principals with 88% overall satisfaction and 94% recommendation rate from principals

“They also have student-centered initiatives such as chef-led pop-ups, taste tests, limited-time offerings known as LTOs in our schools, and then the culinary classic competition,” Shaw said.

Shaw said more than half of students opt for school-provided meals rather than bringing their own.

Lynette Wright, a cafeteria worker, has raised concerns about processed foods and added sugars in school cafeterias. She has advocated for changes in social media posts and letters to media outlets.

“What children eat during the day matters. I say this not from judgment but from lived experience,” said Wright, who addressed the board Feb. 10. “Nutrition affects far more than hunger. It influences physical health, emotional balance, energy levels and a child’s ability to stay focused in the classroom.”

Wright argued that while the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education set minimum standards for school meals, more should be done.

“Management companies have discretion over meal planning, ingredient quality, scratch cooking, sourcing and added sugars, making healthier choices both possible and achievable,” she said. “Many districts are already doing this at the same cost.”

Board member Maryam Mohammadkhani, a retired physician, praised the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 that now allows schools to serve whole milk in addition to reduced-fat options.

She recently met with district officials to learn more about the school meals.

“Thank you for reassuring me that there will be a continued commitment to improving the nutritional quality of the food,” she said.

The other bid was from Southwest Food Service Inc. Asked if the Aramark bid was lower, Shaw said yes in the agreement’s initial year, but if the contract is renewed annually for the entire five-year period, the district will end up paying roughly $30,000 more.

Alyssa Hokkanen, a multi-site kitchen manager, urged the district to remain with Aramark.

“I urge the board to consider the stability and consistency that our current food management company offers,” she said. “By maintaining our partnership with Aramark, we can ensure reliable, nutritious meals for the students, while also supporting our dedicated staff.”