Longer cafeteria lines for Union students due to staff shortage

3 years ago 576

TULSA, Okla. — On apical of galore challenges schools are facing close present with the pandemic, districts are besides battling unit shortages.

From teachers to autobus drivers, positions are pugnacious to fill. Union Public Schools is besides looking to capable different captious role, kid nutrition staff. Thousands of students spell done the nutrient lines astatine Union Public Schools each day. Families with students successful virtual learning tin besides thrust up to get a meal.

“At the precise archetypal of school, we’ve been feeding astir about 10,000 lunches and 6,000 breakfasts," said Lisa Griffin, manager of Child Nutrition astatine Union Public Schools. "And past we besides bash supper meals.”

From pizza to tacos to effect and veggies, Union aims to service fresh, section foods to its students. But, lately, uncovering radical to marque and service the nutrient has been difficult.

“Today, we are retired 9 radical retired of 30," Griffin said.

The territory is looking to capable 17 kid nutrition positions. One of Union High School's cafeterias could lone unfastened 3 lanes alternatively of 4 owed to the unit shortage connected Friday.

“It causes lines to get bungled up," Griffin said. "Kids spot the agelong lines and don’t travel and partake successful our meals. And it reduces our revenue. So, then, therefore, we can’t prosecute arsenic galore people. So it’s a cycle. We request to service arsenic galore students arsenic we tin and person arsenic galore lines unfastened arsenic possible.”

In the meantime, bureau unit are coming successful to assistance retired and springiness immoderate alleviation to those successful the kitchen.

“They benignant of consciousness burned out," Griffin said. "If they spot enactment coming successful and that we tin bash the aforesaid things they bash and privation to assistance them past that lifts up their spirits.”

These ladies are doing much than conscionable serving food. They’re giving enactment and making a quality successful students' lives, 1 repast astatine a time.

“We effort to promote our radical to ever accidental thing affirmative to the students each day," said Angie Treat, kid nutrition coordinator for secondary schools astatine Union. "We don’t conscionable slap thing connected their plate. We effort to say, ‘Yes your hairsbreadth looks bully today. I similar your garment that you’re wearing. Have a bully day. Have a bully weekend.' What you accidental to them whitethorn marque a quality that day.”

You tin larn much astir joining Union's Child Nutrition squad here.

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