Prior Planning Prevents Pretty Poor Performance

No, I didn't just make that up.

Jennifer Myers reports in The Lowell Sun on last night's School Committee Meeting, where the Lowell School System cafeteria workers expressed their indignation at the idea of the school switching to frozen meals for our students.

Frankly, I am not sure I have an opinion on frozen meals.  In a coming week, with my wife visiting our daughter-in-law for several days, I will be having TV Dinners.  Quick and not messy and taste OK.

That said, I do believe the process, as put forward, appears to leave a lot to be desired.

First off, to run the competing firms through the cafeteria kitchen without the current staff knowing about it seems to show a lack of sensitivity to the workers.  This is the kind of thing for which someone should get rapped on the knuckles.  It isn't only bad management, it is discourteous.

Then, to send out an RFP, one that might stir up some trouble, without getting everyone on board, or at least getting tacit agreement, seems to suggest a lack of understanding of the need for process.  While bringing in the City's attorney is important, the real issue is to get School Committee and School officials on the same sheet of music as to who does what when.  I think the Mayor has a reason to be upset.  On the legal side he may be incorrect to say that it was "illegal" but on the politics side he was correct to suggest it was "irresponsible."

Reporter Myer's numbers suggest that there are savings in the six digits to be had by switching to "cardboard" meal, although she didn't do all the math for us.  On the other hand, we have a responsibility to our employees and the food-service workers are our employees.  I am not sure I agree with Ms Paula Trudau, the cook manager at the Lowell High School cafeteria, that the problem is the movement of the health insurance from the general school budget to the food service budget.  I would like to see costs allocated to where they occur and this overhead is part of the food service program.

There has been prior reporting, including this item by Jennifer Myers from 24 April. And, Mimi from Left in Lowell provided her opinion here. And here is a compilation of Dick Howe's "tweets" of the meeting.

But, before the School Committee goes forward, this whole issue needs to get a thorough airing and the process needs to be followed.  Please.  And, in the end, the City might decide to switch to the frozen dinners, to allow us to reallocate funds to provide an overall better education for our students—our children.  If that comes to pass, let us treat those who might be laid off with some respect and some dignity.

Regards  —  Cliff