Brick School Cafeterias Face Slumping Sales

Cafeteria revenue is down in the Brick school district, and officials may consider other options including privatization if the trend continues.

Recent sales figures show a 10 percent drop from the 2011 numbers, Board of Education member Larry Reid said at a meeting.

Reid placed the blame for slumping sales on new federal nutritional guidelines that he says have proven unpopular with students statewide.

"All of the fats and sugars have been replaced by fruits and vegetables, so you know how that's going over with the kids," said Reid. "A lot of kids are bringing their own lunch."

Reid said the district will have to revise its budget estimations for cafeteria sales, and suggested district officials look into starting a breakfast program in middle schools that would have the potential to generate revenue.

The district may eventually have to consider privatizing cafeteria operations, however, Reid said.

Currently, the district employs cafeteria workers. Statewide, said Reid, about 70 percent of districts have privatized the cafeteria staff and solicited bids from companies that operate cafeterias.

"Long term, we cannot lose money in the cafeteria," said Reid.

If the district continues to lose money in its cafeterias, school officials have warned the county executive superintendent of schools could compel Brick to privatize operations.