A larger-than-anticipated surplus in the Carroll Community School District’s (CCSD) Nutrition Fund is leading to new equipment and wage increases for the department. Director of Business Affairs, Nicole McCarville, told the board of directors during their meeting last week they currently have $400,000 more in the account than is recommended. As of Oct. 31, the fund stood at nearly $742,000, which is more than double their three-month average expenditures of approximately $319,000.
In order to spend that balance down, the board considered bids from Rapids Foodservice Contract and Design of Marion for kitchen equipment in each of the district’s four main attendance centers. Those bids included tilting skillets, heated cabinets, dry storage and more, totaling $101,032. According to McCarville, they have other equipment that could be replaced, but these items were identified as priorities by Food Service Director, Sara Anderson.
The board unanimously approved the equipment purchases. McCarville also presented proposed wage adjustments for food service employees to school officials for their consideration. Average wages for staff would increase from $13.04 per hour to $14.53 per hour under this plan and increases the Nutrition Fund’s expenses by nearly $30,000 for Fiscal Year 2021-22. Board member, Onica Ulveling, inquired as to how the wage change would impact future hires.
The board also unanimously approved the proposed wage increases for food service employees. These pay adjustments are retroactive to Nov. 1.
