Aramark stays, for now, after Nyack kids got watermelon on 1st day of Black History Month

NYACK – This school district was the first in New York state to hire a Black woman as superintendent. Now, more than four decades after Dr. Arlene Clinkscale earned that distinction, “here we are,” said Brenda Ross, a local author whose two daughters went through the Nyack schools.

School board members at Tuesday night’s school board meeting also expressed dismay and frustration over a Feb. 1 menu switch at the middle school that placed chicken and waffles and watermelon in front of children in this diverse district on the first day of Black History Month.

Acting Superintendent James Montesano delivered a detailed explanation of how the lunch fiasco happened. The takeaway: Aramark, the school's food vendor, would stay, for now.

The company already agreed to Nyack’s request that its staff undergo equity training, something the district has focused on for years, Montesano told the school board. The vendor is in the middle of a five-year contract that is reviewed annually.

A member of Aramark’s team was expected to appear at the board meeting but did not after an earlier meeting with the superintendent and board President Jennifer Marraccino.

Montesano explained a series of circumstances that led to the offending meal, similar to what he told the USA Today Network days ago. He said a leaderless food services team in the district appeared to make the menu switch so students would not be served the same meal two days in a row. It just so happened that watermelon was available through a USDA program.

Montesano noted that the school district's own staff had taken offensive actions in the past out of ignorance rather than maliciousness. That's why training is necessary, he said.

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Education of those involved, Montesano said, is key. The district has invested much into its equity efforts, including having a director of equity, inclusion and innovation in the administration.

One change that has been made: Alexandra Connolly, the director of equity, inclusion and innovation, will be reviewing school lunch menus, Montesano said.

Marraccino said the incident affected children ages 11-14. “We are very proud of them,” she said of the students who spoke out about their lunch. “But we are sad that this is what unfolded.”

Nicole Hines, president of the Nyack NAACP and a parent in the district, said many Aramark workers are residents and district parents. “We’re in the business of education,” she said, urging Aramark to “put your money where your mouth is” and undergo equity training throughout the corporation.

Ross said that after the school lunch made international news, it was time for a “paradigm shift.” She suggested looking for a local food service vendor, especially with Nyack attached to a village that is known as a restaurant hub and houses SUNY Rockland Community College Hospitality and Culinary Arts Center.

“I am so ashamed that Nyack schools has become known for this incident," Ross said, “and not the wonderful work we’ve done.”

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland. 

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Nyack keeps Aramark after watermelon in Black History Month lunch