CISD scrambling to hire food service workers before summer school
Canutillo ISD is scrambling to hire food service workers before students arrive for summer school.
Board trustees recently voted not to renew a contract with the Arizona-based Southwest Foodservice Excellence company.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the board voted to hire a food service director and other positions to take over the work of the company.
But one board trustee is worried the district may do away with the free breakfast program for students. Southwest Foodservice Excellence company had provided breakfast for students district wide over the past year.
Some parents, students and teachers voiced concerns about the food’s quality and alleged some items were served after its expiration date.
Company officials denied the allegations.
“We are a company run by dieticians and chefs and our whole goal is to increase quality to increase variety. We have about 25 different concepts,” a company representative said.
Trustee Armando Rodriguez said he is now worried the district may do away with the free breakfast program.
Rodriguez asked why the board was voting on hiring a new food service director when he and the other trustees had not seen a job description. The description was later provided.
Rodriguez argued the new director should be held to the same standard as the company which was just let go. He also alleged some board members have ulterior motives.
“They didn’t want to do breakfast in the classroom since the beginning,” Rodriguez said. “This was a political agenda since the beginning in regards to the food service company. It wasn’t about kids, it was about setting higher expectations and accountability for our staff.”
Board president Laure Searls said Rodriguez should have asked his questions about the hires before the meeting.
“Mr. Rodriguez, you heard all this when you were here the other night. And that is why we were coming, for this agenda item right? So there is no reason to muddy the waters sir,” Searls said.
CISD superintendent Dr. Pedro Galaviz also criticized Rodriguez’s questions.
“All we want to do is hire, that’s it. You want to discuss, all we want to do is hire,” Galaviz said.
It’s not clear if breakfast will be provided for the students.
