Parents of students from nine basque public school managed in school canteens Instead of using the service companies catering hired by the Basque Government.They want to provide their kids menus "more healthy" and, simultaneously, use raw materials native to boost the local economies.After several years of operation, these schools have found that, even acquiring foods de high quality, the price of Menu paid by families, about 4 --exactly: 4´65 Euros, while in amother Public school, with catering the Menu costs 12 Euros a day, it is "less than half" of what it costs the service Educationhospitality companies. Grouping parents of students in each school charges menu prices directly families and, with that money, manages the dining. Not receive subsidies because are considered outside the official system.
They hire cooks, helpers and caregivers. Purchased commodities in the village shops and farmersarea. Meals are prepared daily with fresh produce. Department Education invests 118 million euros year in school canteens. In this budget, about ninety million
engaged to pay at seven companies hospitality contracted by the Government to responsible for developing and serving 90,000 meals in nearly five hundred colleges Basques. These firms prepare menus in a central kitchen and delivered the raw materials and make meals facilities of the centers.
Parents of children attending theseschools served by caterers pay 4per day for the menus (if they have right to transport or scholarships, the price is low). That money covers only 24% of the actual cost of the food for the Executive.
Education takes care of the other 76%, equivalent to about ten euros. Of the 154 schools with kitchen that had ten years ago and there are only these nine 'Rebellious', most, small centersVizcaya and Guipúzcoa. First was a 2000 Order of counseling, then in the hands of EA, which provided that all schools should use the service companiescatering approved by the Administration. Another decree of 2007 were gave the lace. The Basque government no longer cover the losses of the chefs worked in eaters welcome to self-managed, in order to push schools to accept menus catering firms. Withoutgrants dripping centers that have closed their kitchens has been relentless since, even though their experience was positive. "Self-management -allows direct purchase of materials raw local producers, develop food at school more quality and savings involved removing the intermediaries" defends Aralar, party last week took the the debate on school meals Basque Parliament to denounce this Schools group has been left out of the system and without subsidies. Formation abertzale also committed to autonomy of schools as a opportunity to use local productsto benefit farmers Basques. The model we have adopted these schools has also cleared by associations of parents of Basque Country (Ehige). In a recent study, alerted of the clustering quality catering menus "are excessive caloric laden pork cooked with abuse and fried foods and no ecological, integrated and seasonal".
Parents complained about the lack of control over eating children. "We face big enterprises we can not even choose. What buy?, Where?, Do they follow criteria sustainability?, What to buy local?, How cook?, What ingredients are used, are healthy?, "the report stressed. The Department responsible Education argue that the model catering has had "a great success between families"', and has never caused problems. They say catering companies use permits "More control" and "give more security to families about what eat their children". Spokesmen for the counseling argue that the choice of self is only possible in centers small that developed few menus and can reduce costs by Parental involvement in the service.
The catering companies, ensure from Education, also use local produce on menus, in Specifically, the vast majority of dairy and poultry and a large part of the meat. Tolosa beans AND APPLES FROM GERNIKA, Larrabetzu School and Altzaga ikastola bet on local produce 31.10.2010 - MAIL In high school Larrabetzu menu today have Tolosa beans, steak sauce, brought by the butcher morning, and apples of Gernika. Children gladly eat beans, some in puree because they are small. "The week nice put last, was a good price. We usually also serve hake". There's no panga or perch "Aitor account, the cook. The public school families Larrabetzu, with just over two hundred students opted for the self the dining room when the decrees of Basque government pushed them to go to catering and close your kitchen. His decision will stop receiving subsidies accounted for dining. "We had the kitchen mounted and remaining bit of money, so we launched, "says Julen Alvarez, member the chair of the committee. Parents pay 4 euros per menu, like Education comes in centers using catering service. With that money, the PTA (Parents Association) gets them to pay three cooks-one full-time and two part-time, ten auxiliary and the coordinator, in addition to the matters premiums. "Even if we acquire products quality, we get less than half of the about 12 euros paid by Education menu 'stress. Parents are convinced that the model we have adopted "health benefits of our children ". "We want to provide a service quality. We worry about what they eat children. Furthermore, by using raw materials urge the local area economy ' Julen details. Families believe that acquiring good eating habits is part of education of their children. The school has a garden in which grow tomatoes consume. A fishmonger, a butcher and the village bakery are served daily. Vegetables also buy them local producers and consume fruit season. "We do not use pre-cooked, twice a month only serve one dish as St. Jacob fried or broiled, not put potatoes as a side bag.
The peel and fry at the moment. The purees are made with kilos and kilos of vegetables cool. The elaborate what we and tomatoaccompany meals with zucchini, cauliflower ... there is always dessert fruit or yogurt, "adds Cook. Half a dozen schools they have called or visited to interest in their model. As in Larrabetzu, parents of ikastola Altzaga Erandio supported continuing the preparing meals at the center, although it would mean a greater effort economic and family involvement. "When we wanted to impose Education caterers did an assembly and opted for self ... Despite we had to raise the quota to 30 euros families pay a month! Education we gives a single euro. We only put tripping. But worth it offer service and food quality is very important, "explains one of the responsible dining. Parents pay 70 euros a month for the menus. In Altzaga they feed 600 children. They also buy the vegetables, the bread, meat or fish in town. They try to hire as assistants and people watchers dining related to the school community, mothers, alumni ... They claim, as Larrabetzu, which they subsidize Education part of the service, as do the other schools that work with caterers.
Kind regards,
Luis.
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