Public Meeting Agenda: June 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Resource Management & Business Operations Committee Meeting

1. Food Services Management Contract (FSMC)

Rationale: Topic: Recommendation of FSMC for 2025-2026 with 4 one-year optional renewals

Key Points of the Briefing:

* It is important to the Bethel Board of Education that an excellent Food Service Management Company administer the food service operations for the district in accordance with all of the regulations of the National School Lunch Program under the direction of the USDA and the CSDE.
* It is important that the FSMC manage the food service operations with a financial break-even or better result; otherwise the BOE operating funds must cover any loss.

Recommendation of the Review and Evaluation Committee:

Three comprehensive proposals were received in response to our RFP. The RFP was developed using all the requirements of the CSDE.
A review and evaluation committee was formed including Pat Rist (BOE Member), Suzanne Rodgers (Accounting Manager) and Jennifer Variale.
Based upon the independent scoring of the stipulated rubric, the committee chose Whitsons. Several highlights of their proposal are as follows:

The highest year one guaranteed profit of $295K
A history of good management in CT school districts
Highest score - #1 choice of each member of the review and evaluation committee
The submission of a very comprehensive and innovative proposal with strong evidence of capability. A financially sound organization with an emphasis on locally sourced fresh ingredients and creative menus.

Attachments: (1)

Board Briefing to recommend Whitsons as FSMC for 2025-2026 (1)

2. Changing Banking Institutions

Rationale: Due to the notice from Wells Fargo Bank, the holder of the Menegay Scholarship Funds, that they no longer support Municipal Brokerage accounts the following resolutions are required:

Fidelity Investments requires a board resolution to establish a new brokerage account(s) where the Menegay Scholarship Funds will be transferred from the current Wells Fargo accounts.

Attachments: (2)

3. New Business

4. Public Comment
(Please note: The Board welcomes Public Comment and asks that speakers please limit their comments to 2 minutes. Speakers may offer objective comments of school operations and programs that concern them. The Board will not permit any expression of personal complaints or defamatory comments about Board of Education personnel and students, nor against any person connected with the Bethel Public School System.)

5. Adjourn

June 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Resource Management & Business Operations Committee Meeting

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