Parents, students and educators press Malden Public Schools for healthier, culturally appropriate lunches ahead of 2022 contract bid

Parents, students and union leaders urged the Malden School Committee on Nov. 8 to improve the quality and cultural relevance of school lunches as the district prepares to put its food-service contract out to bid next year.

“At times there are students who rather not eat than eat the school lunch,” said Brennan O’Shaughnessy, a seventh-grader, describing peers who skip meals because of portion size or quality. Parents Jenelle Devits and Kimberly Gillette thanked School Committee member Maria Spadafora for prioritizing healthier meals and encouraged the district to require larger servings for older students.

Several commenters raised nutrition concerns. “As a health coach, I’m worried about sugar levels and lack of nutrition,” said Cary Lalonde, who said her two children are unhappy with the current provider. Ward 3 City Councillor Amanda Linehan urged the district to include more culturally competent vegetarian and vegan options to reflect Malden’s diversity.

Patrick Fitzgerald, president of the Malden Special Education Parent Advisory Council, added that staffing gaps—especially when special-education teachers are reassigned to substitute in general classrooms—can reduce access to services for students with disabilities and called for investment in paraprofessional positions.

Superintendent Noriega-Murphy and Mayor Christenson said administrators are already preparing to re-bid the food-service contract, which expires June 30, 2022. Mayor Christenson said work to solicit new bids will begin in the coming months and that Ms. Spadafora will take the lead on the contract process.

The committee did not take any formal vote on food services at the meeting; the district said it will carry the comments into the procurement and vendor-selection process.