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 years as 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.”