The Northwest R-1 School District has increased the pay for food service and custodial workers, raising the minimum hourly wage for those jobs to $12 an hour.
The base hourly wage for a custodial worker was $10.15 and for food service employees it was $9.75, said Kim Hawk, the district’s chief operating officer.
She said the pay increase brings the wages for those employees up to what minimum wage will be in January 2023.
“We’re hoping that this will increase the number of people who are interested in applying for the positions, and also help us with retaining our staff,” Hawk said.
Mark Catalana, the district’s chief human resources officer, said Northwest currently has seven food service positions and seven custodial positions open.
Lisa Barnhart, the superintendent’s administrative assistant, said the district has 39 food service workers and 43 custodial workers.
The Board of Education voted unanimously Feb. 22 to raise the pay for food service and custodial employees, and the increase was retroactive, beginning Feb. 21.
Hawk said all workers, no matter where they are on the salary scale, will see some pay increase.
As a result of the raises, the school board will need to revise this fiscal year’s budget, adding approximately $81,000 in personnel costs, Hawk said.
She said the annual cost for increasing the salaries will be approximately $194,850.
Hawk said it is unusual for a school district to change salaries in the middle of the year.
“When you’re at a point where you just can’t find people who will take the job, you have to make adjustments, and that’s the place we’re at right now,” she said.
Hawk said Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER), which are intended to cover COVID-19 related costs, are not being used to pay for any salary increases. However because Northwest expects to receive $12,567,030.35 in ESSER funds, it gives the district flexibility with its overall budget. The total amount of ESSER funds includes $8,057,307 the district is expecting to receive by the end of June, Hawk said.
Hawk said the district has struggled hiring and retaining staff for food service, custodial and even after-school care positions all year. Early this year the district began hiring students to fill some of the after-school care and custodial positions.
Hawk said the district is looking at increasing the pay for after-school care workers next year.