A-P board hears comment about food service

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Katie Reints spoke on behalf of the group gathered at Monday's meeting. The print version of this article in the March 17 Eclipse incorrectly indicated that Katie Reints was the only person present at the meeting that wanted to speak about the Taher food service during public comments. This was a misunderstanding on the part of the author and the Eclipse News-Review apologizes for this error. The story has also been updated to elaborate that the Eclipse did not receive any results to survey questions about the quality of the food offered by Taher.

APLINGTON – The Aplington-Parkersburg School Board heard public comment advocating for A-P to discontinue its contract with Taher Food Service as part of Monday's regular meeting at the Aplington-Parkersburg middle/elementary school in Aplington.

Katie Reints spoke on behalf of a group of A-P parents at Monday's meeting, sharing her own thoughts, and those submitted to her, claiming concern that her and other students, staff and parents had about food quality and food variety offered through Taher.

"This is a community in the heart of Iowa, we do not live in the middle of a metropolitan city where food is hard to come by," Reints said. "… It was proven over COVID that in fact there are families in this community that depend on the school to feed their children. … It's important as a district that we do right by all of our students."

During February's regular board meeting, Taher presented an update on the meal program to the board, which addressed plans to introduce more variety to menu options, including self-service salad bar and fruit/vegetable options that would be more readily available with decreased COVID-19 restrictions in Iowa, working with science classes to establish a hydroponic garden that can provide more fresh vegetables, and seeking out potential farm-to-table relationships.

At last month's meeting, Taher also presented the results of a survey that indicated most students were satisfied with Taher's service team. The Eclipse did not receive results from any survey of the food quality.

Reints did not place blame on any of the food service staff, but indicated that the board should pursue different food service options for the coming school year.

"I feel bad for those hard-working people that have to face the kids every day with food they know they dislike," Reints said. "We are doing our children and our district a disservice by keeping Taher in place."

Other comments read by Reints referenced the importance of nutritional value on the learning process and on the athletic training process.

No action was taken nor comment given by the board on the Taher contract.

Amy Truax presented a report on an advisory committee that met about the upcoming budget hearing, scheduled for Monday, April 5. Areas of focus in the committee meetings have been determining ability to finance infrastructure improvements and staff compensation considerations. Truax noted the school has a strong cash position and is in good shape after recent belt-tightening with budget concerns.

"Making those cuts have moved us in a good direction," added board member Dave Schneiderman.

After the meeting adjourned, board members and middle school/elementary school staff toured the Aplington facility with a representative from ISG Architects to look at some of the needs assessed for the Aplington and Parkersburg campuses as A-P continues to pursue potential upgrades, remodeling or construction at the buildings.

Matters addressed in this tour included roof replacement, to HVAC expansion that would meet CDC guidelines, to expanding outdated classrooms, to ADA compliance with staircase handrails, bathroom door widths and installing sprinkler systems in areas of the building.

The board will form a task force of staff, parents and business leaders in the near future to determine the next step in addressing the needs of the district buildings.

Other items receiving unanimous consent from the board:

- Increasing driver education fees by $10 to $335 for in-district students and $360 for out-of-district students. Driver instructor pay has also increased by $5 per student. 

- A one-year contract with Strawbridge Studios Inc. for school pictures. Strawbridge is based out of North Carolina with an affiliate in Cedar Falls.

- Purchase of two WBC Mechanical heat exchanger units for the Aplington building for $17,964, contingent on the price of the project including all labor and fees. Additional costs will result in the purchase being tabled for next month's meeting.

- The resignations of Kaylie Sharar, high school food service and Robert Hughes, shared Aplington-Parkersburg/Grundy Center Superintendent and the contracts for Joel Reints, assistant junior high boys track coach and Rhett Peters, assistant boys/girls tennis coach.