Batavia School Board Seeks Lower Prices From Outside Vendors

The days of business as usual are gone in .

Due to a looming deficit and recently proposed staff cuts, Batavia School Board members want to negotiate better prices with outside service vendors. In addition to that, the School Board on May 24 will continue their discussion on possible program changes and cuts.

“I want them to do what they can to make every effort to give us the best possible value in price,” School Board President Ron Link said during the Board’s April 26 meeting. “It’s a constant battle for funding and as it gets to be worse and worse any area we can get some relief we’d greatly acknowledge.”

Specifically, school administrators will seek out a better rate with GCA Services Group, which provides district-wide janitorial services, and Sodexo, the district’s food provider.

For the 2011-12 school year, the company wants to increase meal rates 1.3 percent.

Board member Kristin Behmer expressed concern about losing Sodexo’s business.

“I’ve been a proponent of Sodexo—I think they’ve brought in very good service to us and fresh products,” she said. “If they can come down in their price that’s fine, but I’d be a little wary of that. We’ve had people before that didn’t do as good of a job.”

Board Member Jayne Resek said it’s worth asking Sodexo to negotiate.

“I don’t want to lose these suppliers,” she said. “I want to continue this partnership, but I do think we need to be as cost efficient as possible.”

The school district is currently facing a $4 million budget deficit this year, a $5 million deficit next year and uncertain gaps in funding from the state. The School Board in March voted to issue layoff notices for multiple teachers as a precaution. For more on the district's budget projections, click . To read about the layoff notices, click .

Kris Monn, the district's assistant superintendent for finance, said it is not “too late in the game” if Sodexo decides not to partner with Batavia.

“Personally I don’t think it would get to that point over 1.3 percent,” he said. “I believe we can have a conversation and talk. I can’t believe 1.3 percent would end a relationship we’ve had for a number of years.”

Monn planned to provide board members with an update at the next business meeting.