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A collection of 26 Berkeley residents, including Berkeley High PTA President Lee Berry, requested Friday that the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury investigate financial mismanagement at Berkeley Unified School District’s Food Services Department.  

The residents have all signed their name to a complaint alleging that the department has lost $2.4 million over the last three years, costing Berkeley Unified funds that could have helped slow increasing class sizes. 

“I can’t say why they’re losing this much money,” said Yolanda Huang, who along with fellow parent Ray Couture initiated the complaint. “The district financial reports are different every time. That’s why we said we have to go to the grand jury so someone will tell us the truth.”  

Huang has complained to the district for years that BUSD has been losing thousands of dollars while serving reheated, prepackaged food to the majority of its students. 

While the county civil grand jury lacks enforcement powers, it could issue findings and require the district to offer a response, according to Alameda Deputy District Attorney Jeff Stark. He said if the grand jury decides to take up the investigation, a report could be released as early as June 

Superintendent Michele Law-rence disputed the $2.4 million loss figure. “They’re looking at a few years ago when we weren’t accounting properly and food services showed a huge ending surplus,” she said. “We can’t make comparisons from that old data.” 

In an earlier interview District Director of Nutrition Services Karen Candito said her department has cost the district’s general fund about $1.1 million since 2001, some due to accounting changes beyond her control. 

Food service has come under scrutiny in recent years from both the community and state watchdogs. Last year, as part of a district-wide audit, the Fiscal Crisis Management Advisory Team (FCMAT) cited several failings of the department, including a lack of monthly profit and loss statements, no reliable food inventory system and poor communication between Candito and top district officials. 

In addition, the district’s Child Nutrition Advisory Committee, once headed by Mayor Tom Bates, has repeatedly blasted the department for shoddy accounting practices and poor food The committee, on which Huang and Couture both served, has not met for months while members await feedback from Superintendent Lawrence on their proposed food policy and the formation of a superintendent’s committee on food services. 

Huang said the committee’s hiatus contributed to her decision to file the complaint, though several other committee members opted not to join her.  

“I think the school board and city are pretty clear that the food is unacceptable,” said committee chair Eric Weaver. “It’s not as if they need another investigation to figure it out.” 

Huang is no stranger to battling the district. She is currently party to a lawsuit charging that the district failed to perform annual audits of its voter approved construction bond money fund.  

Friday’s complaint comes amid a reform effort, initiated by the district in collaboration Alice Waters of Chez Pannise, to seek grant money to provide fresh food for all students. Later this year the high school will open a new food court with freshly made meals, and in 2005 King Middle School is expected to open its new cafeteria with organic produce funded, in part, by Waters.