Kitchen Assistant - (Palmer HS) - Colorado Springs School District 11

Educational Support Professional: Kitchen Assistant

Position: Educational Support Professional: Kitchen Assistant

Department/School: Food and Nutrition/ Palmer High School

Reports To: Elementary or Secondary Kitchen Manager or to Production Center Manager

FTE:.50

Days/Year: 173

Salary Grade: A05

Salary Schedule: This position is based on the 2025-2026 ESP Salary Schedule, School Based Positions (Group B)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Essential Job Functions

• Demonstrates positive customer service attitude at all times
• Assists in the preparation of food for school meals
• May prepare hot and/or cold food items for service
• May be required to maintain accurate production records
• Assists in the service of prepared food to students and staff
• May serve on food line or as cashier to collect tickets and/or monies for payment
• Cleans and disinfects work area and facilities
• Cleans ovens, sinks, floors, counters and serving trays
• Rinses and cleans dishes and utensils
• Returns utensils to proper storage place after cleaning
• Stocks supply shelves and monitors kitchen supplies as needed
• Follows procedures regarding dating and labeling items placed in storage areas
• May take money in serving line and record meal counts for paying school faculty/staff, student payments and reduced student payments
• May be responsible to maintain accurate meal counts for kitchen records

Other Duties

• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Performs duties of Elementary Manager in their absence

Knowledges, Abilities and Skills

• Knows and practices positive customer service skills
• Knowledge of general kitchen work and sanitation practices
• Ability to perform general kitchen duties
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Basic computer knowledge and skills preferred.
• Basic cashiering knowledge and skills preferred.

Organizational Relationships

Reports to Elementary or Secondary Kitchen Manager or to Production Center Manager

Working Conditions

The job duties and work is performed in a kitchen and/or dining area.

Physical Demands

The work is regularly active. Typical positions required workers to walk or stand for long periods; lift and carry up to 50 pounds from floor to waist and 25 pounds to shoulder height; climb ladders; bend, kneel and crouch; reach, hold grasp and turn objects; feel the temperature of food items; and use hands/fingers to operate kitchen equipment, computers and typewriter keyboards. The work requires the ability to speak normally, to use normal or aided vision and hearing, and to detect odors.

Employees in this category will also receive the following for the 2025-2026 school year:

1. Non-Recurring Pay: 7% of base salary in Non-Recurring Pay (distributed as 3.5% on November paycheck and 3.5 % on May paycheck).
2. Staffing Stability Incentive (Adams Elementary, Galileo Middle School and Mitchell High School): ESP employees will receive the equivalent of one salary step divided over 12 pay periods.

Base Salary Setting

Employment, assignment and salary placement, is in accordance with job description requirements. A work history is required to demonstrate job title, job duties and time worked in the position. Grade placement for ESP positions is determined by the Salary Schedule by Job Title resource. Reference the linked How Your Compensation Is Determined for more details.

Salary Setting (New Hires)

Any newly-employed Education Support Professional will be placed on the twenty-five (25) step system. Each step represents two years of experience, based upon equivalent experience. The maximum number of years of experience granted is 19-20 years, which is equivalent to placement on step ten (10). Steps are determined by experience listed on the application and resume.

Salary Setting (Rehires)

Returning employees who have previously resigned or separated from the District will be rehired at the same step they were on at the time of resignation/separation plus any new experience gained in the same job, provided step increases were approved by the Board during the years in question.

Employees with experience in the District who have left the District and then returned to the same position shall be hired at the same pay grade (refers to the ESP placement on salary schedule by job title) and step at time of resignation. Additional relevant experience gained after resignation may be evaluated from the employee's application and updated resume.

See Employee Handbook (located on the D11 website) for information on salary setting for rehires (after retirement), promotions and lateral transfers.

Equal Employment Opportunity

School District 11 is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to disability, need for special education services (whether actual or perceived), race, creed, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religion, ancestry, age, genetic information, or protected activity in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Any harassment/discrimination of students and/or staff, based on the aforementioned protected areas, will not be tolerated and must be brought to the immediate attention of the school principal, D11 administrator/supervisor or D11 nondiscrimination compliance/grievance coordinator.

NONDISCRIMINATION COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR, the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Ombudservices, has been designated to coordinate compliance with: Equal Pay Act of 1963, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as Amended, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Title IX Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For additional information, please contact the District 11 Office of Equal Opportunity Programs & Ombudservices at 1115 North El Paso Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2599.