Tampabay.com
MARCH 04, 2008

Turkey frank taste test

Hot_dog
Money's tight for Florida schools, forcing district leaders to seek out any way to save a buck or two. even hot dogs are not exempt.

Pasco food and nutrition director Rick Kurtz told the School Board today that he aims to save $25,000 for the rest of the year by switching schools to Foster Farms Turkey Franks. He hopes the kids will like them.

"We're going to test them at an undisclosed school tomorrow," Kurtz said.

Changes in the district bread selection might come next, but not at the district's insistence. The county's primary supplier asked for a 10 percent mid-year price increase, to which Kurtz balked, saying their contract didn't allow it. Plus, with fuel prices rising (among other costs), the budget couldn't cover it.

Now Kurtz expects the supplier to fold, as two others already have done, forcing the district to look for more dough for its bread.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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THE TEAM

Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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