GISD food service workers speak up for raises

The Gonzales ISD school board met for a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Dec. 11 at the district administration building. The meeting began with members of the GISD Food Service Department speaking in the public comments section.

Lisa Blackwell, the cafeteria manager of Gonzales Elementary, said the purpose of staff being at the meeting is for the board to consider a raise for the Food Service Department employees.

“The reason I bring this request for your consideration is due to the fact that, for several months, the response has continuously been that it has been approved, but yet not have been applied,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell said many schools in the surrounding area have reported providing raises across all functions of the school district. Currently the food service department in GISD is the lowest-paid department and has had an increase in staff turnover.

“In our school district, we continually promote that our district is committed to growing greatness. We know that our department is always ready to adapt to school needs to assist in growing greatness for all our students,” Blackwell said.

“We have lost several employees this year to Buc-ee’s and other businesses who are paying more than we currently do in GISD. In this case of Buc-ee’s, the current pay is $21 to $24 per hour. This brings up a concern of what will happen once they complete the expansion of a 75,600-square-foot facility which is only a 30-minute drive from Gonzales,” Blackwell added.

Blackwell said the food service department fund has an excess fund balance that can absorb the pay increase without the affecting the district’s general fund balance.

Blackwell added if an increase will not be provided then “the second clarification we seek is how do we align our department with a district's vision of growing greatness and retaining our staff without a financial incentive?”

“Our food service staff love serving the students and staff in Gonzales ISD. We look forward to your response to the clarification questions we are asking. Thank you for your time this evening and for your consideration of providing our department with a raise that we believe will be the first step increasing our staff retention rate,” Blackwell said.

High School Cafeteria Manager Adriana Perez expressed her concern over TRS insurance that the district provides to the staff.

“Some of these ladies, as well as myself, do not have the option to choose. If we would like insurance, we simply cannot afford it. Being that eight percent is taken out of our check and another six percent twice, that leaves me as the manager with almost nothing. If I were to add insurance, in my situation, more would be taken out. As of now, $300 is taken out of my check with TRS and taxes,” Perez said.

“These ladies have put in tremendous work this year to have breakfast in the classroom, closed campuses and having had some of our employees quit on us. It's been hard, but we keep showing up,” Perez added.

Perez used the Thanksgiving lunch this year as an example and she said it was the biggest they have ever had.

Perez added this was the first year that parents came to eat with their students.

“When we all say ‘Growing Greatness,’ our students, our future — we are included in that slogan. We do it for our students and we do it for their future. We have proven we are growing greatness,” Perez said.

In other board business, the board approved an interlocal agreement with Region 13 Education Service Center for the bond program management.

“Region 13 is already a partner with GISD and was recently engaged to support the district during the pre-bond phase,” GISD Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda said. “Region 13 utilizes the services of Sledge Engineering as their preferred partner and professional engineering firm to support the district's facilities needs. Region 13 and Sledge Engineering have significant experience and success with bond programs similar to ours.”

Region 13 and Sledge Engineering have worked with Nixon-Smiley Consolidated ISD, Poth ISD, Jarrell ISD, Lago Visa ISD, Floresville ISD, Moulton ISD and more.

Avellaneda added the administration recommended Region 13’s program management service, which will provide project accounting, project plan review and project management.

“Their team will provide transparency via monthly board presentations and public meetings to share program progress. In details with our taxpayers, GISD is able to enter into an interlocal agreement with Region 13 in straightforward contracting terms,” Avellaneda said.

The board approved the interlocal agreement, 7-0.

The board approved the following agenda items:

--approved the Ranking of Offerors and Delegate Contract Negotiations to the Superintendent for the Architectural/Engineering and Construction Administration Services for the November 2023 Bond Contruction Program.

--approved the Method for Construction Services for the 2023 Bond Program.

--approved a Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Project Expenditures and Associated Budget Amendment

--approved the Annual Financial & Compliance Report for Fiscal Year Ended August 31,2023 and the Engagement Letter from Singleton, Clark, & Company, PC for the 2024 Fiscal Year Audit

--approved an Amendment to the Lease Contract with the Texas Department of Public Safety Clarifying Terms for Maintenance Costs

--approved the Purchase of One Regular Education School Bus and One Special Education School Bus and Associated Budget Amendment.