Schools
Woodbridge Schools Get New Lunch Provider After Rotten Complaints
Pomptonian will take over now that Woodbridge fired Chartwells Oct. 1, after schoolkids said their lunches were moldy, mushy or brown.
WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Pomptonian Food Services is the new lunch provider for the Woodbridge school system, the district said Friday in this announcement.
Pomptonian will take over as the Woodbridge school district fired Chartwells food service on Oct. 1, after dozens of Woodbridge schoolchildren snapped photos of school lunches they were served that were frozen, moldy or expired. Prior: Woodbridge Schools Investigate 'Moldy, Rotten' Kids' Lunch Issues (Sept. 17)
In late September, a Chartwells representative was called before the Board of Education to explain: She said the Woodbridge school district was very large and that her company had trouble adjusting to the district's request to make all meals pre-packaged/grab 'n go because of COVID.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Like many New Jersey districts, Woodbridge schools discontinued hot lunch this school year due to coronavirus fears.
Dozens of parents spoke at that September 23 school board meeting, saying the food their children had been given was inedible.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Pomptonian will take over Nov. 29, the first day Woodbridge students return from Thanksgiving break.
At the start of the school year, Gov. Phil Murphy ordered all New Jersey school districts serve free breakfast and lunch for all students, no matter of household income levels. This was because he said all families had suffered financially in the coronavirus pandemic, forced business shutdowns and lockdowns.
However, it appears that has now changed, and Woodbridge students will have to start paying for school food again.
These are the prices Pomptonian will begin charging when it begins service Nov. 29:
High school lunch: $3.50
Middle school lunch: $3.25
Premium high school lunch: $4.25
Premium middle school lunch: $4.00
Elementary school lunch: $3.00
High school breakfast: $2.00
Middle school breakfast: $1.90
Elementary school breakfast: $1.65
Reduced-price breakfast and lunch are still free for those students who qualify.
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Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com
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