I am starting a petition on behalf of the Nutrition staff, Bus drivers, custodial crew and all other "unimportant" Roanoke County Staff members that never get the credit they deserve. 

An email recently went out to our staff and parents about the increased teacher workload and the County's plan to initiate some extra free time and pay increase for substitutes and IA's. While that's great, the County failed, and usually does, to mention all the "unimportant" staff that keeps our schools up and running. 

Last time I checked, the job requirements for a substitute teacher or an Aide requires no more skill or education than Nutrition associates, Bus drivers or the custodial crew but yet, we are never EQUAL. We aren't praised or rewarded with wage increases but our workload continues to increase substantially. Plus, we do much more manual labor than any substitute teacher or IA. So, the increase in wages only for Teacher substitutes and Instructional Aides seems completely unfair.

The early dismissal that was the conclusion for extra teacher help takes some of that stress away for them but, increases for Nutrition staff. Not only will we will have to come in an hour early but, we'll have to cram all the cooking and serving into a smaller time frame. We'll  have to stay extra hours on Wednesday's because that's when our food truck is delivered. Currently, most of the "unimportant" staff are so short, we're doing the duty of two and sometimes three people. We are leaving so exhausted and sore that we have no time to recover to prepare for the next day. Not to mention, when teachers were able to work from home during our shut-down, all of the "unimportant" staff still showed up DAILY! We even worked through our summer break for our children!! 

I feel that as a employee of the school system that our employees are not looked at as equal. It has been a ongoing struggle for many years.  Unfortunately,  people forget about the bus drivers who get the kids to school so they can be taught, cafeteria staff who feeds the students breakfast and lunch,  the custodians for keeping the school clean and safe. All of this before teachers can teach and the IA's, office staff, and principal's can do their jobs. So instead of looking down on all these people, we should be made an equal. All school employees should be treated the same and appreciated as such. So when I see people on such different pay scales, some receiving pay increases and or bonuses, it tells a story that one person is more important than another. But the teachers are so short staffed we need to help them out?! COMPLETE GARBAGE!!! The bus staff is short the cafeteria staff is ridiculously short. But your kids are being taken to school and fed the same. I think our school board needs to reevaluate decisions for all involved!!!!! I'm asking Roanoke County Public schools to step up and make a change and be an example to other neighboring cities and counties.

Before you look at an individual with any county job different than you do a teacher, try not to forget all the  behind-the-scene heros that kept us afloat during this crisis. It takes ALL OF US for the students to receive an education! Don't get me wrong,  I love my job and all the teachers for doing what they do, but I also love the ENTIRE TEAM OF STAFF that participates in our children's education.

Please considering signing this position to help us achieve FAIR AND EQUAL PAY FOR ALL "OTHER" ROANOKE  COUNTY EMPLOYEES!!

EQUAL = SUCCESS