Cafeteria workers argue for more pay
MASONTOWN — A representative for cafeteria employees in the Albert Gallatin Area School District spoke out Wednesday, telling school board members they want higher wages to stay in line with other district employees.
Saunie Angel said workers are not making as much money as other secretarial and custodial employees in the district.
“We are just asking that we are considered the same as the rest of the employees,” Angel said.
District administrators and the school board are currently in contract negotiations with cafeteria employees.
“Every time the contract comes up, it’s always that the cafeteria employees make too much,” said Angel, noting that a cafeteria manager makes $19.05 an hour, but after special events and overtime because of the lack of substitutes, the salary breaks down to $11 an hour.
District solicitor Lee Price said that in addition to the $19.05 an hour, cafeteria managers receive family health insurance for the entire year, not just the nine months they are working. He also noted that full-time cafeteria employees, those who work five or more hours a day for nine months, make $17.57 an hour and also receive family health insurance for the whole year. Part-time employees make $17.01 an hour and work 180 days, with no health insurance.
“These cafeteria workers are either at the top or within the top two of highest wages for their positions in the three-county region that includes Fayette, Greene and Washington,” said Price. “It’s not like we are treating these workers like second-class citizens.”
According to business manager Denise Sheetz, the district is negotiating the contract and developing a budget for next year with a $4 million shortfall between revenues and expenditures.
At the meeting Wednesday, directors voted to authorize the superintendent to notify any professional employee who may be furloughed commencing with the 2012-13 school term.
Superintendent Carl Bezjak said the move is standard practice according to the contract for any member of the teaching staff who is in the collective bargaining unit.
“The budget is still pending and developing. This gives us time and permission to explore,” said Bezjak, who noted that any notifications will not indicate definite furloughs.
In personnel moves, the board accepted the retirements of H. Vicki Sweder and Susan McCracken. The board also accepted the resignation of Justin Malik as the Albert Gallatin South student council sponsor.
Directors awarded cafeteria positions to Barb Duley, D. Ferd Swaney Elementary School and the high school; Betty Sunyak, Albert Gallatin South Middle School and D. Ferd Swaney; Valerie Bittinger, high school; Rose Shipp, Albert Gallatin South; and Kara Arnold, Albert Gallatin South. The board also voted to hire Mary Kendall, Jeremy Kendall, James Miller and Chelsey Morgan for extracurricular spring musical positions.
In athletic moves, the board hired the following coaches: Tom Dolde, Ron Marciante and Jason House, assistant high school football; Joe Embacher, head ninth-grade football; Alan Moody, assistant ninth-grade football; Joe Thomas, head cross country subject to sufficient number of students participating; Bernie Wydo, golf; M. Shae Fleenor, head boys basketball; Keith McCormick, assistant middle school football; Shawn Curry, middle school fall athletic director; and Kay Darr and Nancy Joswick, middle school co-head cheerleading.
The board also:
n Added Reagan Boyd, Charles Durso, Meagan George, Andrew Harmon, Kristen Peton, Lacey Wood and Marsha Banton to the professional substitute list and Christina Bricker, Holly Mesler and Ryan Lapenta to the nonprofessional substitute list.
n Granted permission to solicit bids for the George J. Plava Elementary School renovation project.