LETTERS: School milk
To the Editor:
We would like to respond to the Marion-Florence BOE decision made last week. We are self-employed dairy people. We place the bids, order our dairy products, deliver, stock and rotate the milk, and pay Hiland for the milk. Hiland, formally Steffens, bottles and brings it to us three times a week. They also do the billing of our schools at a two percent charge to us.
We bought our business and are proud of what we do. We never take for granted anything involved in our business. We always have done the best job we can. The fact that milk was bought from Hiland for years, reinforces the fact they are the best in the production of milk, dairy products, and ice cream.
In the case of the Marion-Florence school district, milk was checked or delivered there no less than nine times a week. Milk almost always had a 10 to 12 day use code on it. Sometimes things did not get written down that were needed, or they would run short of milk, and they would call, and we always respond to them. We visited with cooks at all our schools to be sure and help rotate the milk, to use the older milk first. Milk was left setting out, on the counter, un-iced, for up to an hour at a time, and then put back into the cooler for reuse.
Another problem we faced was empty crates stacked outside. They then either blew away, got leaves, dirt, ice, and snow, etc. in them, or dogs urinated on them. These would have to be restacked and then put in our dairy truck.
In our bid letter we asked for any questions of concerns to be taken up with us. That did not happen. We were there, visually, or as the cooks knew, as close as a phone call away.
K&J Dairy and Hiland Dairy gave credit on any spoiled milk or dirty cartons when they were turned in. We would not expect or accept it any other way. But, when it came to Christmas break, spring, or end of school, we picked up all the milk, and restocked it, without any credit from Hiland.
In response to the comment the kids will stop drinking milk, that was laughable. The kids drank tens of thousands of cartons of our milk, two-thirds of which was chocolate, which according to the Marion County Record, we had the low bid on. Maybe the kids will drink more of the other drinks available in the vending machines at the school.
We will miss the smiles of children who always were glad to see their milkman.
They would ask, did you bring chocolate milk or strawberry milk? They would hold the doors open or just smile and wave "hi" to their friend, the milkman.
This year we will have six grandchildren in the Marion-Florence school system.
We were proud to do our part for the town. We have lived here most of our lives, pay taxes here, by gas, diesel, and tires here, bank here, and buy as much as we can for our "hometown."
Lastly, we thank Bruce Skiles for his support for seeing the whole picture and to the people of this fine town who have voiced support to us.
The door always will be open for us to the Marion-Florence school system.
Karen and John Kline
Marion
