6 HR tips from an industry powow

Between rallying cries to stop the Child Nutrition Reauthorization block grant moving through the House of Representatives, this year’s School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference exuded savvy ways to manage staff.

1. Take advantage of health inspections

Instead of being swept up into the frenzy of health inspections, use them to identify training deficits. “It tells me when I’m at the office, there is something going on that I’m not seeing,” says Katie Mahoney, assistant director of child nutrition for Southwest Independent School District in San Antonio. Mahoney also uses the assessment categories as a framework to see if there are any gaps between what the health department looks for and how her staff is trained.

2. Expect the unexpected

Mahoney fosters adaptability among her team through regular refreshers on training for infrequent issues, such as handling a recall. Similarly, Della Eiche, food and nutrition specialist at Harford County Public Schools in Bel Air, Md., has her staff create written action plans to follow in case of fire, active shooter or tornado drills, so that they can still feed students on time. 

3. Cut costs with housemade proctors

In order to cut costs for certifications such as ServSafe, Colorado Springs School District has developed their own proctors. That way, the district only has to pay employees for their time studying, taking the class and completing the exam, and not the cost of a proctored test.

4. Shout out succession plans

To ensure employees see a future at his operation, Jeffrey Proulx, food and nutrition supervisor for Washington County Public Schools in Maryland, hosts a “Site Leader University” program. The program helps employees to understand how to become a manager, complete payroll and conduct other managerial tasks. It helps him put together succession plans and see “who’s next.” Eiche also plans for succession with a cross-training flow chart that lists each position followed by everyone who has completed training for it. She says it’s the only way to get beyond the daily chaos of unexpected no-shows. 

5. Pencil socialization into your checklist

When creating your work schedule, block out social time with staff. “Social time makes sure interruptions down the line don’t happen,” says Eiche. She says allowing staff to check in gives the opportunity to demand quiet time later on. “If that means posting a sign outside your door that says, ‘Unless it’s quitting, burning, bleeding or on fire, don’t bother me,’ then do that,” she says. 

6. Attract younger professionals with technology

Instead of attending or hosting a physical job fair, organize a virtual job fair where candidates can video call in. Alicia Landry, assistant professor in family and consumer sciences at University of Central Arkansas in Conway, says attendance skyrocketed when the university took the biannual job fair online.