Evening star., 1953-02-19
School Parents
Planning 10 .Lisi
Lunch Faults
Many Complaints
Justified, Nelson
Tells Delegation
By james 6. Deone

Southeast parents today were
hoping to sit down with school
authorities soon to detail their
complaints about food In school
cafeteriaS.
The parents made a formal
protest to the Board Of Educa-
ton yesterday. and Acting Supt.
Norman j. Nelson admitted
many Of the complaints are justi-
fed. especially on poor food
quality and lack of menu flex-
ibility.
Mr.. Nelson said cafeteria man
ayers are trying to improve the
menus. and authorities hope, by
next summer, to work out new
contracts for some supplies, he
added.
Foods From GSA.
The Star disclosed yesterday
that school officials complained
Tuesday to District Purchasing
Officer Roland M. Brennan's Of
flee about low-quality canned
peas, carrots, mayonnaise and
coffee. These items are being
bought through Mr.. Brennan's
Office from the General Services
Administration, which also sup
plies other District institutions.
Mr.. Brennan said he will per-
NIT the schools to buy directly
from wholesalers. bypassing GSA,
if school officials put the COM
plants in writing. He began an
investigation yesterday.
1--WE are very much disturbed
at the quality of some foods we
are required to accept" Mr.
Nelson told the school board. He
said the school system wants to
write its own specifications for
some items that aren't satisfac-
tory now.
S8 Under Central Control.
All 80 cafeterias were brought
under a central management for
the first time last December 8.
Previously each principal ran his
own independently.
Mr.. Nelson said school officials
have visited schools and eaten
lunch with the students in an
effort to meet criticisms. which
have come from principals and
pupils elsewhere besides the
Southeast. In some cafeterias.
both pupil and teacher patronage
has dropped.
Mr.. Nelson blamed part Of the
lunchroom troubles on time-con-
suming accounting requirements
Of the new Setup, under which
all items sold must be tailed in
dividually on reports. Miss Aleta
Logan. the cafeteria director, and
her assistants have been so busy
getting organized they haven't
had time to get to the schools
very much. Mr.. Nelson explained.
Better Recipes Sought.
Plans now are being made to
buy a greater variety of food
items and provide better recipes.
Promised milkshakes also will be
available at all senior highs by
March 2, the school official said \
Lack Of milkshakes has brought
protests at some schools.
Mrs. Frank s. Phillips, a board
member, asked whether man
ayers would be permitted to buy
more fresh and frozen foods.
Many have complained about
substitution Of canned goods.
Mr.. Nelson made no commit
ment on this. Charles N. Zellers.
business officer. explained that
some schools don't have ade-
quate refrigerators for storage.
Mr.. Zellers said it is too early
to tell whether the new setup will
make money. It lost $6,044 in
December. but this was because
the staff had to be paid even
during the Christmas vacation,
he said. There was a $2,771
profit from December 8 to "a. he
reported.
Appointments Permanent.
The board, at it's meeting,
made permanent the appoint
ments Of Cedric o. Reynolds as
principal and John D. Koontz
as assistant principal Of Coolidge
High School, Henry L. DeKeyser
as assistant principal of Kramer
Junior High and Gilbert A. Diggs
as assistant principal Of Francis
Junior High.
Retired were Mrs. Lillian s.
Malone. principal Of Stevens
Phillips School: Mrs. Jane M.
Estopinal. teacher at Wheatley;
Everett L. Brown, teacher at
Phelps Vocational, and George
c. Williams, teacher at Francis.