4/16/2021 -- Parkway’s Board of Education, on April 14, approved a contract with the food service management company Chartwells to support the district's nutrition services department.

Some of the key reasons for the decision to move to a food service management company include: 

• Additional resources for the nutrition services department
• Marketing and design support of cafe spaces
• Enhanced menu development to meet guidelines
• Staffing support and training
• Improvements to kitchens and cafes
• National network and lower food costs
• Student focused
• Innovations that include the following:
  • Utilization of school gardens
  • Investment in food trucks that can be used daily
  • Food waste donation
    • Including an option to supply to nonprofits
• Menus that track allergens
• Menus for catering
• Work with local farmers
• Attract and retain employees
• Significantly lower food supply costs
• Discovery kitchen - working with students

The district will be able to retain all food service employees under the plan.

Overall 246 school districts in the state have a management company for their food service including the Clayton, Pattonville, Kirkwood, Lindbergh, Ladue, Bayless and Affton school districts.