Cranston Schools
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GLOBAL RESOURCES ... STATEWIDE EFFICIENCY ... LOCAL CONTROL
Dum vigilo curo (While I watch, I care.)
– Motto, City of Cranston
INTRODUCTION: The Past is Prologue
The motto on the coat of arms of Governor Samuel Cranston – from whom this great city takes its name – is not only succinct and powerful. In an odd way it seems to have anticipated the Sodexo-Cranston partnership. For “caring” is an eloquently simple way of describing the foundation of Sodexo’s “clients for life” philosophy – a way of doing business that we trust will serve the best interests of the people of Cranston for years to come.
Sodexo Food Services is honored to have added the children of Cranston, their families, and indeed each and every resident of this venerable yet vitally youthful city to our roster of “clients for life.”
Sodexo brings to Cranston the unique combination of Global Resources, Statewide Efficiency, and Local Control. As our relationship begins to blossom, we should take a moment to review just what this approach is all about.
GLOBAL RESOURCES
Already the words “Cranston, Rhode Island” have been read and spoken in conference rooms and executive offices from Washington, D.C, to London, England, to Paris, France. Indeed, from the banks of the Potomac and the Thames and the Seine, some of the most gifted and honored professionals in the international food service industry – men and women at the highest levels of Sodexo’s corporate structure continue to address themselves to the needs of our great city on the Pawtuxet.
Sodexo’s global resources – human, financial, and otherwise – are arrayed in service to each and every child in the Cranston schools we serve.
STATEWIDE EFFICIENCY
The secret is out: We are stronger together than we are individually.
With each passing day, Rhode Island’s cities and towns are embracing the notion that, working in tandem and otherwise avoiding duplications of efforts, they can create a consortium that, in terms of economic and administrative efficiencies, stands to save tens of millions of taxpayer dollars annually.
Sodexo administrative services are being centralized – and thus maximized – for all of the school districts we work with in Rhode Island.
Yet at the same time – and this is an example of what we like to term the “Sodexo difference” – Cranston, like each district we serve, maintains local control of its programs and on-site, dedicated management and staff.
LOCAL CONTROL
In the final analysis, it is the good people of Cranston – who set education policy, who administer and teach and learn in our schools, who entrust their children to our care, who fund and conduct our work, and who hold the greatest stake in the future for which we build our youth – who must control Sodexo’s programs in Cranston.
And who are doing just that.
In the most literal and meaningful sense, Sodexo has not come into this great city. Sodexo comes out of Cranston.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: THE ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP
One who cares is one who listens.
J. Richard Clarke
Sodexo’s local programs and policies are, in significant measure, customized for the Cranston school district. We listen to you – carefully.
Treat all customers with respect; pamper them with genuine affection and work as advocates to support the shared mission.
The Sodexo Difference
PEOPLE: THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST
Leadership – of the enlightened, impassioned, committed variety – remains the critical ingredient for the success of our joint efforts. And in Cranston, the individuals who are most deeply committed to our children and our city comprise the Sodexo team.
Sodexo reflects the extraordinary diversity and myriad strengths of the people of Cranston.
A WEBSITE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND ASSIST
This website promises to grow into one of the most innovative and accessible offerings on the Internet. The people of Cranston will help design it, and thus it will reflect the creativity, interests, and needs of those it serves.
And of course this page will provide all the basic information necessary to guide our children confidently through the school year.
Here are just a few of the ideas we’ve come up with for Cranston’s home page. What do you think? What are we missing?
- A Day in the Life – Highlighting a day in the life of a Sodexo chef, a Cranston teacher or administrator or student ... lovely profiles of our shared community’s members.
- Families on the Go – featuring parents’ recipes that are quick, simple, healthy, and tailor-made for those hectic weeknight dinners.
- Flavors of the Seasons – celebrating innovative uses of seasonal fruits and vegetables offered on school menus, including recipes.
CRANSTON AND SODEXO: A CITY AND A COMPANY THAT CARE
Cranston and Sodexo – a city and a company that define themselves in terms of their commitment to care – were made for each other.
In 2006, Cranston was named one of the “100 Best Places to Live” in the United States by Money magazine. This award was earned by people who care a great deal about each other.
Throughout the world, caring for others is the cornerstone of community. But don’t take our word for it. Just go to any of our city’s elementary schools, get to the library, and find its copy of The Lorax. It shouldn’t be difficult; it will be the volume that shows the greatest use.
The words will jump off the page – as the internationally celebrated words of Dr. Seuss always seem to do.
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not.
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