Trustees approve food purchasing cooperative, keep adult meal prices unchanged for 2025–26

Portage Township Schools trustees voted to approve participation in the NIESC purchasing cooperative for food service agreements and to hold adult meal prices steady for the 2025–26 school year.

Administrators reported that cooperative bids had already been awarded to the following vendors: dairy to DFA, food to Gordon Food Service, produce to Piazza, bread to Alpha Bakery and point‑of‑sale services to Heartland. Staff described additional categories such as commercial snack and beverage providers.

John Kelly, food service director, recommended no increase in adult meal prices based on reimbursement rates; the board approved adult breakfast at $2.85 and adult lunch at $5.00 for 2025–26. Trustees approved both the cooperative participation and the adult meal pricing by roll call votes recorded in the minutes.