District 59 wants kitchen in new adminintration building for student lunches
After Elk Grove Township Elementary School District 59's food service contractor Sodexo threatened to stop serving lunches before the end of the school year, district officials now strongly favor adding a kitchen/commissary to a proposed administration center.
Indeed, it was the lack of an on-site kitchen in District 59 that Sodexo officials believe caused them to lose $1 million over two years, since they had to pay to prepare meals at a school in DuPage County, then transport the food to District 59 schools. The district reached a deal to pay more to keep meals coming.
But district officials hope having an in-district kitchen could avert problems in the future.
"I think the kitchen piece is important," said Superintendent Art Fessler. "We're very vulnerable."
The school board Monday voted 4-3 to pursue plans to build new administrative offices, a professional development center and a warehouse at 999 Leicester Road in Elk Grove Village on the site of the former Lively Junior High School.
The district is now considering adding a 2,000-square-foot kitchen to the mix, complete with a walk-in cooler, freezer and space for dry goods. That alone would cost $1.2 million.
With the rest of the building estimated to cost $8 million to $9 million, plus possibly constructing an outdoor track and soccer field on the site, the project price could rise to as much as $11 million. The district plans to sell its current building and neighboring vacant property to help fund construction costs. Officials also expect to use $4 million from reserves.
The school board plans to discuss the possibility of the additions to the project on March 14. Board member Tim Burns, the tiebreaking vote, has said he may consider changing his vote if the track and soccer fields aren't part of the deal.
If given final approvals, construction could begin this October and be complete by July 2017.