Privatizing school food services in Granite District has resulted in increased student participation, maintenance of prices and greater satisfaction, the Granite Board of Education was told Tuesday.

Robert Ward of Marriott Corp., which has managed the district's food services for the past five years, showed statistics indicating a healthy business relationship. He said the company has met the conditions outlined by the district when the arrangement was approved."You wanted to keep lunch prices low," he said, showing that Granite students pay less than the state average at elementary, junior high and senior high levels.

"You wanted the program to be self-sufficient," Ward said, and again showed a 58 percent increase in total revenues, with a 7 percent gain in carry-over.

Participation has increased by 27 percent, with a significant gain at the junior high school level, where students tend to eat fewer school meals. At that level, participation rose from 30 percent up to 52 percent, Ward said. The overall district increase compares with a 3 percent rise in school meal participation statewide, he said.

Students are being offered more menu choices, including some popular "fast food" entrees in some cases.

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Marriott has significantly improved kitchen equipment and lunchroom amenities and continues to upgrade, he told the board. Over the five years, 20 schools have begun school breakfast programs, and five more will be added this year, Ward said. Individual schools make the decision regarding breakfast.

The company has added 45 employee positions, countering early concerns that school employees would be negatively affected by the switch to a private company, and has picked up the insurance for food service employees, at a cost of more than $1.1 million.

Marriott also provides nutrition education to students and by 1995, expects to meet all federal guidelines for nutritional content of school meals, he said.

Board members expressed satisfaction with the arrangement.

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