East Haven Won't Extend Schools Food Services Contract Over Quality Concerns

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – With several Board of Education members questioning the financing and quality of the food being served in the East Haven schools, the board at its most recent meeting voted against extending the one-year contact of Whitson’s New England, Inc.

The vote was 7-1 against extending the food contract. One parent at the school board meeting, Lina Travers, thanked the board for not approving the contract. She told the board that kids were posting pictures of “moldy sandwiches” on social media to show their unhappiness with the meals they were being served. (To sign up for East Haven breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

While some board members were concerned about the billing procedures being used by Whitson’s, and whether the food company was overcharging the East Haven school system, others said they voted against the extension for another reason – the food wasn’t good.

Board member Thomas Hennessey said it is up to the food contractor to provide a quality lunch for the East Haven school children.

He called the lunch quality “terrible.” He said it wasn’t just the parents complaining about the food quality, but also school officials, including principals, had been saying the same thing.

School Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner warned the school board that if it didn’t renew Whitson’s contract, that there might not be enough time to secure a new vendor for not only the next school year, but this coming summer’s school program.

The one board member who voted in favor of extending the contract, Ronald DeNuzzo, said he did so because he was worried about jeopardizing the entire food program for the summer and next year since there was much time to find a new vendor.

The majority of board members weren’t swayed, stating there was time for Whitson’s to improve on its food service to prove they deserved another chance, or to find an alternative – over the next several weeks.