Sodexo introduces district food truck

Keller district high school students will have a new dining option next year when the new KISD food truck visits campuses.

At the June 25 board meeting, trustees approved the expenditure of $257,560 from the child nutrition fund savings account to buy a food truck that will be operated by Sodexo, the district’s food service contractor.

The truck, which will visit each of the four high schools once a week and go to other locations on the fifth day, is an effort to entice more kids into purchasing school lunches.

“High school students were asking for more variety and better food,” said Superintendent Randy Reid.

District officials received three responses in their request for proposals, which ranged from $167,890 from Vending Trucks, Inc., to $264,275 from On the Move, Inc. The winning bid came from Pasco Brokerage, Inc.

Administrators said that the lowest bid did not meet specifications, lacking a slide-out service window for multiple points of sale, a dual exhaust or dual air conditioning. They believe the mobile kitchen will be a good investment.

“The food truck will generate excitement and revenue,” said David Smith, KISD’s general manager for Sodexo.

Trustee Jo Lynn Haussmann cast the lone dissenting vote. She said she would prefer that the funds were used to improve elementary school lunches.

As part of the same request, board members also awarded $348,622 to Shepherd Food Equipment for refurbishing food lines at Fossil Ridge High school and Chisholm Trail Intermediate School.