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District outlines Student Nutrition compensation proposal and staffing concerns amid turnover
Summary
Administration presented a compensation model for student nutrition staff (assistants, site leads, cooks) intended for 2023–24 implementation, discussed market competition, transitional placement for long‑service employees and turnover drivers including retirements and movement to full‑time jobs with benefits.
District finance and student nutrition leaders presented a proposed compensation model for three job classes in Student Nutrition (assistants, site leads/hostesses and cooks) and discussed staffing challenges and turnover.
Director Liedl and CFO McCray described a matrix‑style model that would set a proposed starting wage for a new assistant at roughly $16 an hour (modeled at $16 with projections using a 2.5% annual increase), include transitional placement for long‑service employees and create spacing to avoid immediate compression between new hires and existing staff. The committee heard that the proposed model would acknowledge years of service and allow for “distinctions” (such as training or certifications) to affect placement.
Liedl and McCray said turnover spiked during the COVID years when some staff retired or moved to full‑time jobs that included benefits. Liedl told the committee that “when we started to really see turnover was when COVID began” and that many left for positions offering health insurance or due to working conditions. Committee members asked whether the proposal would raise existing long‑service employees who would otherwise be paid less than new hires; administration said the model tries to address inequitable placements while being fiscally sustainable.
McCray identified market competition beyond nearby districts (for example, convenience stores and retail chains) for entry-level workers, and said Verona was paying more in some roles and offering sign‑on bonuses. The committee heard that student nutrition staff served over 1,500,000 meals last year and that the department employs more than 50 people across sites, with 23 employees in the one‑to‑five‑year service range.
Ending: Administration presented the proposal as a seed for the October budget packet and said placement details and any distinctions would be finalized in coordination with human resources; the board retains discretion for final implementation and timing.
