Plans to privatize the Port Byron Central School District food service are soon moving to the next step.

After receiving one bid to take over food service operations, Superintendent Neil O'Brien is just days away from making a recommendation to the board of education with a resolution coming to the floor by this week's board meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school library.

Advanced Meal responded to the request for proposals put forth by the district by the Nov. 30 deadline. The private food service company based out of Syracuse also operates in the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District.

Currently, the district and Advanced Meal are ironing out details about the bid, especially as it relates to employee relations, O'Brien said.

“When we feel comfortable we have a full understanding of the bid I can make a recommendation to the board in time,” he said. “We will continue to engage the bidder in conversation to make sure we are on the same page.”

If a resolution to hire Advanced Meal is passed, O'Neil anticipates the company to begin operations by January.

Port Byron has been looking to transfer its district-operated food service into the hands of a private company as skyrocketing costs of health insurance and commodities have been eating away at funds used for the cafeteria.

The Civil Service Employees Association union - who represents the 15 cafeteria workers employed by the district - and the district have been at odds over the decision to out-source operations.

CSEA is looking to keep the service in district hands, and have been circulating petitions and speaking up at board meetings against the proposal, according to union spokesperson Mark Kotzin. On Nov. 28, the union picketed outside the school immediately before a board of education meeting.

Kotzin said 400 Port Byron residents have signed a petition against the measure and the union has offered the district money-saving suggestions that could keep the cafeteria afloat.

“We believe that we had some proposals that would save money and we told the district that,” he said, referring to employees dropping the district-provided health insurance and changing food ordering practices, “but they didn't seem to be really enthusiastic. We've been led to believe that this has been part of the district plan from the getgo.”

Any suggestions provided to the district by CSEA would not have significantly changed the outlook for the cafeteria, O'Neil said.

“At this juncture nothing has changed in regards to the solvency - or insolvency - of the cafeteria,” he said. “No proposals that would have significantly affected that have occurred.”

Kotzin is asking for members of the public against the privatization to speak up during Wednesday's board meeting.

“We really need them to turn out in force on the 19th,” he said, “and put forth a last-ditch effort to let the board know what the community wants.”

O'Neil has said that this decision has not come easily to the district or the board members, and that everyone has done all that they could.

“The board represents the entire community to the best of their ability,” O'Neil said. “As I've said all along, they were searching for a solution that would sustain the cafeteria but address the solvency. They have struggled with that, they've been honest and it's been an open conversation for months. At this juncture they are looking at a solution that would make a very insolvent cafeteria solvent and not cost the taxpayers additional taxes.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239

If you go

What: Port Byron Central School District Board of Education meeting

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: High school library.