Grayslake schools' food provider seeks increase

Grayslake Elementary District 46's food-service operator is seeking a contact renewal with a 5 percent increase for the 2009-10 academic year. Preferred Meal Systems Inc., based in south suburban Berkeley, will be entering the third year of its five-year deal with District 46. Preferred Meal Systems entered a series of five, 1-year contracts with the school district. If approved, the increase would mean District 46's cost for breakfast with milk would change from $1.28 to $1.35. Lunch with milk would increase from $2.08 to $2.19. The reason for the change, according to Preferred Meal Systems, is an increase of 5 percent in the Consumer Price Index for food eaten away from home. In a memo to District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll and school board members, Preferred Meal Systems noted all of its menus now have zero grams of trans fat. School board members did not take action on the proposed new contract at a meeting Monday night.