Marion Central examines shared food-service director with Williamson and plans summer feeding

District leaders described a tentative plan to share a food-service director with neighboring Williamson and a summer feeding program that will provide free breakfast and lunch to summer-school students and bag lunches at the town park.

Director outlined the plan: the retired food-service director, Warren Bush, continued this year in a transitional role and is moving toward retirement. The district has a tentative agreement with Williamson to split the cost of a food-service director 50/50; each district would cover three buildings (the district noted it includes WEC under its contract for the buildings counted). As part of the transition, Warren Bush would be retained as an hourly consultant for up to one year, and any consultant hours would be billed hourly and split 50/50 with Williamson.

Director and other board members discussed options including whether to promote internal staff into a shared or stipend role, the complexity of food-service reporting requirements for state and federal reimbursements, and the importance of clear contract parameters to avoid an open-ended cost obligation. Board members asked whether the district needs a 50% FTE position or should seek another partner district to share costs; district staff said the one-year shared arrangement is intended to be temporary while the district evaluates a long-term approach.

On summer feeding, the superintendent said summer-school students will receive a free breakfast and free lunch, and the district will offer bagged lunches at the town park for about 45 minutes each day; the program will be staffed by two current employees. Board members asked about logistics for breakfast timing and whether breakfast for students would be provided before they leave for practice; staff said they would follow up with the food-service consultant (Warren) to confirm details.

What happens next: staff will continue contract negotiations with Williamson and define consultant-hour limits for Warren Bush; the superintendent will verify summer feeding logistics and report back.