The Port Allegany School Board is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday to share a presentation with the public on subcontracting cafeteria staff.
“The purpose of Monday’s hearing is to explain the reasons why the board has solicited the proposal from an outside vendor. The board will not be taking action on any food service operation that evening,” said Port Allegany Superintendent Gary Buchsen.
Buchsen explained that public comment is invited at that time as well.
The primary concern in regard to subcontracting the work involves the cost of food service operations as it is currently handled.
“Over the six years (not including this current fiscal year which has yet to close out) the Port Allegany SD Board of Directors has had to authorize transfers of $561,011 from its general fund to the cafeteria fund to keep the food service operations solvent,” Buchsen said.
According to Port Allegany officials, other area school districts operate food services as a self-sufficient entity, with revenues of sales from breakfasts, lunches, related items and reimbursement for free and reduced lunches covering program expenses.
Monday’s presentation will include salary comparisons to other districts in McKean, Cameron, Elk and Potter counties. It makes note of the fact that several districts, including Austin, Bradford, Johnsonburg, Ridgway and St. Marys, contract for food service. Meanwhile, average wages for other districts range from $7.67-14.65 for Galeton’s cafeteria workers to $16.52-18.00 for Coudersport cafeteria staff.
“Current district costs for a food service employee on a per hour basis including wages, benefits, and pension — including all applicable state reimbursements — average between $19.78 per hour to $40.58 per hour,” Buchsen said.
The board received a food service proposal earlier this year, which would help the district move from an annual loss to an operation that would essentially break even (costs of food service equal to revenues), Buchsen explained.
A statement received from the Port Allegany Education Support Professional Association takes issue with the proposed move, stating that Port Allegany residents feel the cafeteria staff “are like second mothers to (their) children” and are in opposition of the change.
“We are distressed that the school board and the administrators have continued their efforts to fire us,” said Joyce Stehle, president of the Port Allegany Education Support Professional Association, which represents the 12 cafeteria employees. “We have been trying to negotiate and settle a contract with a living wage to support our families, and instead they have tried to intimidate us by threatening our jobs.”
The statement goes on to say that, “On average, the support staff employees in the PASD earn less than $14,000 and only two of the cafeteria employees even qualify for any health benefits. Support staff costs make up less than 3 percent of the district’s budget.”
Stehle reports that more than 1,000 people have signed an online petition opposing the subcontracting efforts, while many others have sent in letters of support and have signs in their yards.
The statement also includes comments from several parents in the district, expressing gratitude for the cheerful disposition and hardworking attitude of the current staff.
One such comment, from Lorraine Ayers, states: “I just want to give a big thank you to these lovely ladies. I have come to realize how involved these workers are in our children’s life. Making a meal for 400+ kids is a difficult job as it is, and these wonderful ladies have stepped to the plate. I don’t know what these kids would do without them!”
Negotiations between the district and the Port Allegany Education Support Professional Association have been in motion since January of 2019. The most recent contract was set to expire on June 30, 2019.
