Committee approves surplus disposal, facility uses and raises kitchen substitute pay to $14

The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District School Committee approved several routine but material operational requests at its June 23 meeting, including disposal of an old food warmer, permission for external groups to use school space and a $2-per-hour raise for substitute kitchen workers.

On a surplus-disposal request, staff said Maureen Gonzales purchased a new food warmer for district kitchens and the old unit is nonfunctional. The committee moved and approved disposal of the old unit.

The committee granted a recurring facilities request from the French River Education Center to use district library space for programming, a practice the district said has worked well in prior years and will not interfere with school activities.

A resident requested use of the school parking lot July 24 to provide overflow parking for a private gathering. Staff said the request appeared to be for parking only and did not ask for a fee waiver; the committee approved the request under standard parameters and noted a $50 space fee applies.

On wage policy, the committee considered a written request from Maureen Gonzales to increase the pay rate for substitute kitchen workers from $12 per hour to $14 per hour, paid from the food-service fund (separate from the general fund). After discussion about comparability with classroom substitute rates and hours worked, the committee moved and approved the wage increase.

Each of the items was approved by voice vote (ayes recorded) during the meeting.

What happens next: Staff will proceed with equipment disposal procedures, confirm facility-use logistics for the French River Education Center, process the parking permit and fee, and update payroll to reflect the higher substitute kitchen rate.