BUTLER TWP — The Butler School Board will switch at least part of its food service workers to the Nutrition Group of Irwin, Pa., after a board vote Monday night.

The vote said: “The staff employment will be dependent upon the outcome of the negotiations between the District and the union representing the food service employees who are currently employed by Butler School District.”

However, the decision means that the five management-level positions will be outsourced regardless. The unionized food service workers may or may not be outsourced to the Nutrition Group depending on the remaining negotiations, according to district solicitor Tom King.

The district requested two proposals, one that assumes the company will take on the responsibility of the management roles and another proposal that assumes the company takes on both the management and staffing roles.

According to board member John Conrad, the board favors moving both the management and the staffing to the Nutrition Group.

“The board is inclined to (the option for staff and management moving to the Nutrition Group), and we’re waiting for union concurrence,” he said.

Under Nutrition Group’s plan, it would take on both the management and the current district employees through the union, with the company acknowledging that the district would save money with reduced pension contributions and benefits. Those employees would be hired for the same hours and the same hourly pay they receive as employees for the district.

The Nutrition proposal does not include staffing decreases.

The district’s 95 food service workers are working under their previous contract, which expired in June 2015.

A final decision on whether the Nutrition Group will take on management-only or management and staff duties depends on how the remaining negotiations with the food service union go.

The Nutrition Group, which serves the Mars, South Butler and Freeport school districts, submitted a plan for Butler to include more choices, upgrade food at the elementary schools, and use student surveys to improve meal menus.

Nutrition’s proposal estimates the cost of the program would be about $2.4 million.

The proposal used projected breakfast and lunch price increases, which were approved by the board Monday. The lunch prices will increase at the elementary schools from $2.10 to $2.25; and at its secondary schools from $2.35 to $2.50. Breakfast prices will increase from $1 to $1.25 at the elementary and secondary schools.

On the revenue side, Nutrition’s proposal guarantees a $150,000 payout to the district in the upcoming school year.

According to Deborah Brandstetter, director of business services, the food service accounts are separate from the general operating fund, and any remaining money in the food budget does not apply to the general operating budget. Any revenue from the food service program would not impact future deficits for the district’s general budget.

The outsourcing of food service is being considered because of lagging student participation and the in-house program has lost nearly $700,000 since the 2008-09 school year.

The district is required to make a decision by June 30, and a vote is expected at a board meeting at noon June 30 at the Harriger Educational Services Center, 110 Campus Lane.