The day after SEIU hosted a positive Community Meeting with Metro Schools food service workers and community supporters of healthy food initiatives, administrators urgently sent out an email across the district about privatization in the MNPS food service department.  Here's the most important part:

“Rumors have been circulating regarding the outsourcing of Food Service in Metro Schools. This may have roots in the fact that custodial service was outsourced last year and we recently had a visit from the Council of Great City Schools to provide us a management study of our department.  Metro Schools is NOT outsourcing Food Service.”

Even though these "rumors" happened in part because administrator Fred Carr said that the district was "looking at all options" when asked about outsourcing at an in-service meeting, we are nonetheless thankful for this great news.  We see it as a sign that the district is being more thoughtful before implementing major changes.  It's a shame that the custodians were not given this consideration, but at least one group of MNPS employees has something to be thankful for in the new year.