Miller Place elementary students don't have to brown-bag it anymore

After brown-bagging it for nearly two months, about 1,300 elementary school students in the Miller Place school district can buy their meals in school again.

The district selected Aramark as its food provider after a bidding process and meals were served at Andrew Muller Primary School and Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School starting this past week, according to a statement from Superintendent Marianne Higuera.

"Students will notice a wider array of healthy food options, including more choices of fruits and vegetables," she said.

The delay had its origins in labor negotiations with the Miller Place Cafeteria Union, which began in January. District officials have said the program was supposed to be self-sustaining but lost more than $400,000 over the past three years.

In mid-June, the district and the union agreed to dissolve the union. Its members were guaranteed a "like position" with whatever food service company was chosen. Because negotiations were continuing, the district said, it could not issue a public bid for food services, and that, in turn, led to the delay in providing meal service at the elementary schools.

Subsequently, students at the Muller Primary and Sound Beach schools were told at the start of the school year that they must bring their lunch, and those at the middle and high schools had limited food choices.

Under the new arrangement, no one at the district lost a job, Higuera said. Several employees sought jobs elsewhere, and those who did not were hired by Aramark, she said.

The costs of running the food service, including all personnel, are Aramark's responsibility.

Nick LaMorte, Long Island region president of the Civil Service Employee Association, questioned the district's decision to privatize the food service.

"I'm happy for the children and the community that there is now something in place," he said. "But I am disappointed with the school board and the superintendent for taking this course of action."

By Joie Tyrrell

joie.tyrrell@newsday.com@JoieTyrrell

Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.