Anchorage school meal program faces worker shortage, loss of pandemic funding – Alaska Public Media

It’s not simply bus drivers that the Anchorage Faculty District is struggling to rent as the primary day of faculty approaches. District leaders say there’s additionally a scarcity of cafeteria employees, which might influence pupil meals.

“We’re going to have a hell of a problem attempting to take care of buses, meals service, every part else,” mentioned Anchorage Faculty Board member Pat Higgins eventually week’s board assembly. “You’ll be able to’t go to a quick meals restaurant, you’ll be able to’t go to a grocery retailer, you’ll be able to’t go to a {hardware} place with out a assist wished signal.”

The college district is competing with eating places and grocery shops for a small pool of employees, mentioned Andy Mergens, who leads the district’s pupil vitamin program.

“All people’s bumping their beginning minimal wage as much as attempt to entice extra folks, and it simply turns into like a bidding struggle,” Mergens mentioned in an interview.

Mergens mentioned there are 16 cafeteria supervisor positions open within the district. It’s an enchancment from the 22 open positions they began with final college 12 months. Nonetheless, that’s 16 faculties that may’t serve scorching meals.

“Till we are able to fill these vacancies, barring any miraculous resolution on the contrary, we’re going to have to supply these college students with a bag lunch, for all intents and functions,” Mergens mentioned.

These are shelf-stable, ready-to-serve lunches. With out cafeteria employees, it may be as much as entrance workplace workers, custodians and different college workers handy them out. 

Colleges that may serve scorching meals will nonetheless have challenges associated to the employee scarcity. With out sufficient truck drivers, components can’t arrive on schedule. That may end up in some last-minute menu modifications — and disillusioned youngsters.

“The menu makes a distinction, as a result of youngsters will eat what they like,” Mergens mentioned. “Typically they’ll present up and, ‘Ooh, it’s pizza day, yay, we get to have pizza,’ solely to indicate up and discover out it’s not pizza.”

In an effort to rent extra cafeteria managers, the district is providing bonuses of as much as $2,500 to each present and new hires. They’re additionally providing $1,000 to district workers who refer profitable candidates. Mergens mentioned there are full-time, part-time and fill-in positions accessible, and the district will assist employees get their meals dealing with certification. He hopes mother and father may even think about making use of.

“Notably at these faculties which are going to begin with out a cafeteria supervisor, if you would like your college to have meal service, then come and enroll and we’ll get you in and get you began, and hopefully you’ll be able to assist out your child’s college by filling that position,” he mentioned.

Adjustments to federal pandemic funding will even influence pupil vitamin this 12 months. Throughout the pandemic, many colleges might feed college students without cost no matter revenue, because of waivers from the U.S. Division of Agriculture. That ended on the finish of final college 12 months.

“Basically what occurs is we return to the way in which issues have been earlier than COVID,” Mergens mentioned.

Which means households eligible without cost and lowered meals have to fill out an utility this 12 months. They will apply on the district’s web site.

Thirty-seven faculties are taking part within the Group Eligibility Provision program this 12 months. All college students at these faculties are mechanically eligible without cost breakfast and lunch day by day, no matter revenue, so households don’t have to fill out an utility. 

At the district’s different 43 faculties that serve meals, households both pay for them or apply without cost and lowered meals. When meals turned free at these faculties earlier within the pandemic, Mergens mentioned 12% extra youngsters obtained their breakfasts and lunches in school.

It’s too early to say what number of college students will qualify without cost or lowered value meals this 12 months, particularly as Everlasting Fund dividends begin to enhance many households’ revenue ranges.

At full value, lunches value $4.50 at elementary faculties, $5 at center faculties and $5.50 at excessive faculties. College students accredited for lowered lunch pay 40 cents.

Forward of the primary day of faculty on Aug. 18, Mergens mentioned the district is working to make college meals as accessible as potential.

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