The Windham “ Lunch Ladies ” have successfully opposed a growing trend by fighting the privatization of food services in town . Just last week , the Suffield Board of Education voted to lay off Vicky Danahey , a 16-year employee , and outsource her food services director position to Sodexo , a multinational conglomerate in the industry . But when Sodexo came to town on July 14 at the request of the Windham Board of Education , they met a formidable opponent in the form of the Windham food service employees , their union representatives from CSEA / SEIU Local 2001 , and members of the local public .

As folks filed into a public hearing at the Windham Middle School , they were greeted by a slick presentation by Sodexo . “ Windham Public Schools and Sodexo , ” said a graphic projected onto a large screen above the auditorium stage , “ Partnering to advance student achievement . ” Sodexo sent a whole cadre of representatives , including Phil Bornstein , director of business services , and Mike Grey , vice president of operations . During their presentation , Sodexo staff attempted to connect with the locals by talking about their families and their connections to the local community . They promised to recognize the union , retain all employees at their current level of benefits and salary , and offer safe , healthy food for local children . Bornstein said that Sodexo could offer employees opportunities that they did not currently enjoy , such as a staff nutritionist , career training , assistance with grant writing , and the opportunity for career advancement within the company . And Bornstein explained how Sodexo would save the district money , an estimated $ 180 , 000 the first year, by increasing revenue by 6 . 2 percent , and decreasing expenses by 8 percent . “ We buy , literally , hundreds of millions of dollars of food , ” said Bornstein , “ and that allows us to get lower prices , lower than the district would ever be able to get . ”

But during the public portion of the meeting , district employees and Windham residents reiterated concerns that employees , some of whom had been with the district for decades , would lose their jobs once a private company had control . Maureen Hulse , from Ridgefield Public Schools , shared her experiences with privatization . An employee in food services in Ridgefield , Hulse recalled a number of changes in control after the district made the decision to contract with Sodexo . Sodexo first combined with Marriott before losing the contract to Chartwells . Hulse said that Sodexo then regained the contract at a later date . “ Each time there were disruptions to the quality of services provided to students , ” said Hulse , “ and disruptions to wages and benefits . We’ve become pawns in a bad chess game . ”

Several residents had done their homework , and came prepared with articles concerning Sodexo’s services to districts throughout the United States and Canada . Brian Anderson , with a child in Windham public schools , referred to a series of articles regarding Sodexo’s involvement in Chicago public schools . “ Reading this series of articles in the ‘ Chicago Tribune’ is stomachchurning , ” he said .

“ Their only job is to make money for their multi-national corporation , ” said resident Michael Westerfield . “ The people of Windham are saying ‘ We don’t want this to happen . ’ And we want our elected officials to hear us . ”

Jean Richards , retired from Coventry Public Schools after 14 yearsas the food services director , had some ideas for reducing costs and increasing services without impacting the budget . “ I never , not once , lost money in my program , ” she said . Richards said the district didn’t need a large corporation to be able to afford the services of a nutritionist . “ Bring in students from the nutritional sciences program at UConn , ” she said . “ It doesn’t cost anything , and it’s a winwin situation . The students gain experience , and the district gains expertise . ” Richards said that the district didn’t need Sodexo to benefit from career training , either . The School Nutrition Association ( www . schoolnutrition . org ) offers free and low-cost training for cafeteria workers . “ I used to pay for trainings for my employees , ” said Richards . Richards said there was grant money available through the Healthy Food Certification program that the board could sign up for , and suggested asking for grant writing assistance from UConn . “ And there are so many ways to increase student participation in the food services programs , ” she said .

It only took about five minutes for Board of Education members to reach a decision after the public hearing . As six members voted against a contract with Sodexo ( with two abstentions ) , the auditorium erupted into cheers .

“ As a board , we just felt our employees and the job they do for us was worth that decision , ” said board member Dan Switchenko . “ I would hope that the community would give the same sort of support for our teachers and the rest of the public school staff , because that was tremendous support shown there . ” But , he cautioned , with 25 teachers , 25 paraprofessionals , and all but one elementary art teacher having been eliminated recently , the school district still faces difficulties . “ We’re not just doing this for some excitement , ” said Switchenko . “ This is life or death for us . ”