12:15
A TIGHT
STAFFING SHORTAGES
12:18 P.M. Soft open rst lunch for designated students 12:20 P.M. First lunch starts
“It used to be the kids would come through and tap in their [account] code, you’d ring up their food and they’d move on, but we don’t have time for that. So we stand by the doors and have tally sheets,” Saunders said. “They come through, get their meal, and we do a tally and at the end of the day, I ring it all in.” Volunteers chip in Technically, the turnaround time between the normal three lunches at Vista Ridge is between 13-15 minutes to bus several dozen tables, change out the trash cans and gener- ally reset the large room. But as students linger, nish eating and head o to their next class, that window quickly shrinks. “The thing that has been the biggest help for us is when [volunteers] come and they just take care of the tables and the trash,” Saunders said. “It’s more like seven minutes between all three lunches— seven minutes to change 14 trash bags, take them out and to [clean] all those tables.
With the potential to serve over 2,000 meals in a day at Vista Ridge High School and operating with about half of its sta , the nutrition team had to nd creative ways to not only prep and serve hot food, but to get the cafeteria reset for three—sometimes four—rounds of lunch service of 300-400 complete meals per round. TURNAROUND
As the demand for services across LISD has returned to pre- pandemic levels, sta absences have also increased.
12:30
Total absences needing a sub
Total absences lled
Fill rate
12:45
12:55 P.M. First lunch ends
30,759
81.61%
37,692
2019-20
1:00 PM
1:10 P.M. Second lunch starts 15MINUTES to turnaround 1:40 P.M. 13MINUTES to turnaround 1:40 P.M. Second lunch ends
28,375
65.96%
43,017
2020-21
1:15
38,152
68%
70%
54,500
2021-22 (projected)
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
1:30
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
volunteers and on-site sta pitching in, employees from LISD’s o ce in Leander have also taken time out of their day to help out. The district would send out a virtual list allowing them to ll in at the campuses with the greatest need on a given day. “It felt like every day I saw that Google Sheet ll up by willing volunteers, peoplewho were doing their jobs on top of going and serving,” said LISD’s Community Relations Coordi- nator Rachel Acosta, who has
When I have ve or six people working, it just can’t be done.” That gap has been lled at Vista Ridge by parent volun- teers as well as the school’s own administrative sta , including Principal Paul John- son, a move that allows the CNS team to remain in the kitchen and prepare for the next wave of students. At Winkley Elementary School in Leander, Kat James has taken the opportunity to be involved at her kindergart- ener’s school and, in addition
to supporting teachers by taking “menial tasks o their plate,” has enjoyed time in the cafeteria. “I wanted tohelpout,” James said. “I know the sta ng is low, but I wanted to be involved in the school and school district. At lunch, we help the smaller kids open milks or their fruit gummies. If they spill some- thing, we clean it up and wipe down the tables. I don’t think the cafeteria sta could do it without volunteers.” In addition to parental
1:45
1:53 P.M. Third lunch starts
2:00 PM
volunteered at several of the district’s campuses. “It was a wonderful experience to be able to not only do it but to see other people doing it.”
For more information, visit communityimpact.com.
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CEDAR PARK LEANDER EDITION • MARCH 2022
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