Impact of outsourced food services on staff's and students' levels of satisfaction

This study examined the impact of outsourcing the management of the cafeterias of three secondary schools in southeastern Pennsylvania on the satisfaction level of the staff and students. Three different ((a) all female, (b) all male, and (c) coeducational) secondary schools of a 22 secondary school system participated in the study. The study analyzed the responses of thirty informants, ten from each of the participating schools. The researcher, using open-ended probes for qualitative data, interviewed (a) three principals, (b) three assistant principals, and (c) three teachers from each school. In addition, 15 students (five from each of the selected schools) participated in completing a questionnaire. The researcher utilized data analysis-by-inspection with the responses from the three schools and selected qualitative information and quotations to enhance the quantitative data.;In the analysis of the data, differences were noted between adult levels of satisfaction and student levels of satisfaction. The data revealed specific concerns of the adults as differing from the concerns of the students. The staffs of the three schools were concerned about: (a) the business approach to the management of the cafeterias, (b) the pressure upon the workers in the cafeterias, (c) the variety of food to select from daily, (d) a lack of healthy food offerings, and (e) profit as the goal of management.;The students in the three schools were concerned about: (a) the long lines in which they had to wait when buying food, (b) the prices of the food items, (c) shortage of food in the sixth-period lunch, and (d) a lack of healthful food offerings. Despite the specific concerns of the staff and students, 73% of the adults and 86% of the students favored the changes in the cafeteria management as a result of the outsourcing initiative.