HISD trustees approved a $5.8 million contract for food services with Aramark Educational Services at a board meeting Thursday night.

Included in the contract to service the district's schools in the 2010-11 school year is a six-figure multi-year marketing plan to promote school food to students.

Aramark has committed to spend $613,000 over a three-year period to "redo and restage kitchen areas," said Melinda Garrett, chief financial officer for the Houston Independent School District.

The contract recommended to HISD trustees Monday at an agenda review meeting passed unanimously. Trustees Carol Mims Galloway and Diana Davila were absent for the vote.

Aramark won the contract over another food service management company, Compass Group USA. Both companies submitted proposals after HISD solicited requests for proposals in January of this year.

Contact Lynn Walsh at 713-228-2850 or lynn@texaswatchdog.org.