I believe that some -- not all -- of the food is for the Board and administrators when they have closed sessions before the board meetings---at dinner time. If the board meeting starts at 7:00, for instance, the closed session might start at 6:00 ---and some board members come directly from work. However, as a former employee, I can vouc…
I believe that some -- not all -- of the food is for the Board and administrators when they have closed sessions before the board meetings---at dinner time. If the board meeting starts at 7:00, for instance, the closed session might start at 6:00 ---and some board members come directly from work. However, as a former employee, I can vouch for the fact that the Central Office administrators regularly ordered food when they held meetings during the workday.
Oh yes, I can confirm that a lot of the catering expenses are for board meetings or SAP committee meetings or whatever. But this is nuts! The City of Evanston has tons of meetings at dinner time, a $500 million dollar budget, and they don't serve catered meals for dinner time meetings. I'm sure it's a nice perk but like, no other public body that I know of does this
When I worked for a Fortune 100 company with millions in reserve, there were a few years we missed sales goals and the operating budget of the subsequent year was slashed. After one of those years, as a cost cutting measure, a decision was made not to have any catered food at regular staff meetings. If you wanted food for a meeting over the lunch hour, bring it. Exceptions were made for events like customer visits. After the year was up, that “no catered” food practice continued. I’m sure some complained. Most just realized how much money could be allocated elsewhere.
It’s not hard. Bring your own darn lunch or dinner to a meeting.
I spent a lot of time thinking about this, because I've worked in corporate settings with absurd amounts of free food (facebook) and even in my own business, I expense lunches once or twice a week.
The difference is that these are not funded by the taxpayers - the staffers probably don't want to hear this - but there's a certain frugality that comes with being a public servant. The taxpayers pay most of these admin staffers six figures, gives them generous pensions and healthcare and in return, we expect them to act in our best interest.
Again, no other local government does this - the City of Evanston does not order catering before council meetings and they have a vastly larger budget!
I feel like that corporate policy might be borderline parsimony, but at an organization operating with public dollars, this much spending is outrageous when coupled with the shortfall and other financial malfeasance that’s occurred. The occasional appreciation meal is expected. I’m not sure who thinks it’s ok to blow $500 on a meal at Coopers Hawk when parents are asked to supply Kleenex and cleaning supplies for a school. When will this city wake up? We need cleaning supplies all right- in the form of votes at the ballot box.
The administration is currently RIF'ing support folks left and right and in one case, RIF'ed someone without board approval and required them to reapply for their own job at entry level pay. While at the same time, as you mention, pissing away $500 at Coopers Hawk. This is no better than the Horton era, just not done under the guise of equity this time.
And just think about this: What do school lunches look like for the students? How many kids go without breakfast? How many reduced lunch kids get crappy alternative lunches when their families fall into arrears? And these grifters eat thru (literally) the school district bank account? Infuriating!
When I interned at Eastman Kodak when it was on a sharp downward slope financially, they eliminated company coffee, and I mean the inexpensive old-fashioned coffee pot. This was draconian and clearly solely for ‘optics’ to use corporate lingo. But it definitely sets the tone of austerity. I expect even D65 is now done with lunches as it is beyond ‘bad optics’ in the current financial state.
I believe that some -- not all -- of the food is for the Board and administrators when they have closed sessions before the board meetings---at dinner time. If the board meeting starts at 7:00, for instance, the closed session might start at 6:00 ---and some board members come directly from work. However, as a former employee, I can vouch for the fact that the Central Office administrators regularly ordered food when they held meetings during the workday.
Oh yes, I can confirm that a lot of the catering expenses are for board meetings or SAP committee meetings or whatever. But this is nuts! The City of Evanston has tons of meetings at dinner time, a $500 million dollar budget, and they don't serve catered meals for dinner time meetings. I'm sure it's a nice perk but like, no other public body that I know of does this
When I worked for a Fortune 100 company with millions in reserve, there were a few years we missed sales goals and the operating budget of the subsequent year was slashed. After one of those years, as a cost cutting measure, a decision was made not to have any catered food at regular staff meetings. If you wanted food for a meeting over the lunch hour, bring it. Exceptions were made for events like customer visits. After the year was up, that “no catered” food practice continued. I’m sure some complained. Most just realized how much money could be allocated elsewhere.
It’s not hard. Bring your own darn lunch or dinner to a meeting.
I spent a lot of time thinking about this, because I've worked in corporate settings with absurd amounts of free food (facebook) and even in my own business, I expense lunches once or twice a week.
The difference is that these are not funded by the taxpayers - the staffers probably don't want to hear this - but there's a certain frugality that comes with being a public servant. The taxpayers pay most of these admin staffers six figures, gives them generous pensions and healthcare and in return, we expect them to act in our best interest.
Again, no other local government does this - the City of Evanston does not order catering before council meetings and they have a vastly larger budget!
I feel like that corporate policy might be borderline parsimony, but at an organization operating with public dollars, this much spending is outrageous when coupled with the shortfall and other financial malfeasance that’s occurred. The occasional appreciation meal is expected. I’m not sure who thinks it’s ok to blow $500 on a meal at Coopers Hawk when parents are asked to supply Kleenex and cleaning supplies for a school. When will this city wake up? We need cleaning supplies all right- in the form of votes at the ballot box.
The administration is currently RIF'ing support folks left and right and in one case, RIF'ed someone without board approval and required them to reapply for their own job at entry level pay. While at the same time, as you mention, pissing away $500 at Coopers Hawk. This is no better than the Horton era, just not done under the guise of equity this time.
The current superintendent is showing all of us her true colors. The BOE failed the community/failed the kids of Evanston by hiring her.
Yeah I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. I thought at the bare minimum, the food thing would change.
And just think about this: What do school lunches look like for the students? How many kids go without breakfast? How many reduced lunch kids get crappy alternative lunches when their families fall into arrears? And these grifters eat thru (literally) the school district bank account? Infuriating!
When I interned at Eastman Kodak when it was on a sharp downward slope financially, they eliminated company coffee, and I mean the inexpensive old-fashioned coffee pot. This was draconian and clearly solely for ‘optics’ to use corporate lingo. But it definitely sets the tone of austerity. I expect even D65 is now done with lunches as it is beyond ‘bad optics’ in the current financial state.
You would expect that, but you would be sorely disappointed.
Yeah I expect zero change