2026-2027 Part-time Cafeteria Assistant at Dandridge Elementary School

Food Service Assistant

Part-time; 5.5 hours per day (8 am to 1:30 p.m.); 185 days paid days per year (includes 5 paid holidays) - for a full school year; number of paid days is pro-rated if hired during the school year.

Benefits for part-time employees:

Convenience Care for employee plus one dependent; no cost to employee; provides unlimited teledoc visits; no-cost prescriptions (on selected list); mental illness support app. $10,000 life insurance policy paid by JCS.

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Nature of Work Employees in this classification assist in providing meals and snacks for students attending Jefferson County school facilities. The tasks associated with the job and number of hours worked per day vary depending on the size and enrollment of the school and the age of the students attending the school.

Duties associated with the job include: the preparation and serving of meals; cleaning of the dining facilities, kitchen equipment, utensils and serving trays; receiving and recording meal fees; stocking supplies and food; and monitoring the behavior of students in the cafeteria.

Some independent decision making is required to determine meal preparation activities and amount of food to be prepared. The position requires considerable physical effort due to excessive walking, lifting, and bending and incumbents are exposed to caustic cleaning chemicals and occasional temperature extremes. Work is reviewed through observation of the quality of meals prepared, productivity on the job, and ability to interact with co-workers and students.

Illustrative Examples of Work:

• Prepare fresh salads, cuts raw vegetables, and prepare fruit for meals.
• Prepare and serve a hot or cold breakfast for students as they arrive for school.
• Prepare meals and sets up the serving line to provide lunch for teachers and students according to established schedules.
• Clean cooking equipment and utensils as necessary and upon completion of daily activities.
• Receive and store food supplies and other inventory upon delivery.
• Operate dish washing equipment to clean trays, silver ware, cups, and plates as students complete meals.
• Sweep and mop the kitchen and dining areas as needed and following each meal.
• Stock milk containers and replenish food on the serving line when necessary.
• Organize and clean freezers and coolers as required.
• Bake bread, rolls, deserts, and other baked items for meals.
• Clean tables and common areas in the dining facility.
• Empty the trash as necessary and upon completion of daily activities.
• Operate the Microcheck machine to record student meal transactions.
• Perform related duties as required.

Necessary Requirements of Work:

Graduation from an accredited high school or GED program, experience working in an institutional food service setting, ability to interact successfully with co-workers, school age children, and the public or any equivalent combination of education and experience to provide the following knowledge, skill, and abilities:

Knowledge of institutional cooking supplies and equipment and cooking procedures involving the preparation of large quantities of food.

Knowledge of commonly used food service cleaning supplies and equipment and acceptable standards of cleanliness for food service facilities.

Knowledge of the safety procedures involving the use of institutional cooking equipment and supplies.

Some knowledge of USDA guidelines pertaining to the national school lunch program and meal pattern requirements.

Some knowledge of the Jefferson County school cafeteria guidelines or the ability to acquire this information in a short period of time.

Some knowledge of food proportions necessary to feed differing numbers and ages of students.

Skill in the operation of institutional cooking and cleaning equipment.

Skill in the timing and preparation of meals for large quantities of people.

Ability to perform the physically demanding aspects of institutional meal preparation including heaving lifting (up to 50 lbs.), excessive standing and walking, and bending.

Ability to follow directions and adapt to changes in work assignments to meet changing workload demands.

Ability to interact successfully with teachers, school children, and the public.

Necessary Special Requirement:

Incumbents must pass a physical exam and TB test prior to employment. Fingerprinting and clearance through TBI required.