‘We didn’t have an option’

LUSD food service employees claim they are working without proper COVID-19 protection

Last summer, California Schools Employee Association members who work at Lodi Unified School District were concerned about COVID-19 exposures while working on site.

Now, two union members who are employed in food services are claiming they have been working without the proper protections since the pandemic began 13 months ago.

Geneva DeLeon works at Lawrence Elementary School and said she and her coworkers have been required to return to work without proper personal protective equipment, without social distancing measures enforced, and without any kind of Plexiglas barriers in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“Every single time I hear that school campuses are reopening after a long closure, I’m incredibly confused,” she said. “Food service has been working since every essential worker has been asked to return to work. We have worked through our scheduled lunches and breaks in order to produce our expected workload. A workload that has more than tripled due to the pandemic.”

Food services employees have been providing breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks to the entire student population younger than 18, DeLeon said, seven days a week.

Co-worker Marty Lozano said even though a majority of students have returned to campus, food services is still providing as many as 300 meals on campus, including take home meals or snacks.

In addition staff prepares take home meals and snacks for the weekend, handing them to students on Fridays.

“We don’t have a lot of help,” Lozano said. “We’re doing a lot of packing and making a lot of meals for the kids and parents to take

“Without our dedication, hard work and willingness to put our students first where would our schools be? We didn’t have an option of working remotely. We were expected to be at work in harm’s way, handing out food to everyone and sometimes handing food to someone whom refused to wear a mask.”

GENEVA DELEON, LUSD FOOD SERVICES EMPLOYEE

home, and it feels like we’re doing more now than when they were off campus.”

The pair claim not only do they not receive extra help, but they are not receiving extra compensation. If employees can’t make deadlines, they have been told not to put overtime on timecards, DeLeon said.

Lozano said the lack of safety precautions causes her concern, as she is asthmatic and afraid her chronic condition will make her more susceptible to COVID-19.

Her fear was increased recently when her physician told her COVID-19 can still be contracted even after one becomes fully vaccinated.

“We’ll do what we have to do and keep going,” Lozano said. “When the kids come to us, we have to give them everything by hand, and we’re nervous. Kids pile up. If you tell them to stay three feet a part, a lot of them don’t understand, because they’re just kids.”

DeLeon said food service employees at all LUSD campuses share her concerns, and are asking why teachers, principals and office staff were given the option to work remotely.

She said she has taken her concerns to her CSEA representative, but does not think the union or the district are listening to its employees.

“This is something I feel that the school board, principals, teachers, and even parents fail to realize,” she said. “Without our dedication, hard work and willingness to put our students first where would our schools be? We didn’t have an option of working remotely. We were expected to be at work in harm’s way, handing out food to everyone and sometimes handing food to someone whom refused to wear a mask.”

Not long after the pandemic began last year, the district closed the James Areida Education Center at 1305 E. Vine St. after an employee self-reported they tested positive for the virus.

Between March and August of last year, custodial employees at Tokay High School and the district’s Custodial Response Team reported having to quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure.

In February, the district reported it received 450 reports of possible exposure or positive test results since the pandemic began, although none of them occurred at school sites.

Five positive test results had been reported at five different schools when students in grades Kindergarten through sixth returned to campus between March 29 and April 2.

Four more positive results were confirmed at John Muir, Lakewood, Silva and Creekside elementary schools between April 6 and 12, according to the district’s exposure notifications page.

The district has not disclosed if the positive results or exposures were from students or employees.

“We the food service workers were asked to be at work every single day without any safeguards,” DeLeon said.

“How blatant can the absolute disregard and disrespect be for an entire staff be? A staff that helps each and every school perform to the highest level. Without the food service workers, the students wouldn’t be able to learn and perform to the best of their abilities.”

Randy Cordoviz, the district’s CSEA president, said all classified workers, which include food services, maintenance and operations, custodial, paraeducators, clerical and technical employees worked tirelessly and safely during the pandemic.

He said while it was true there was not enough PPE at all sites and campuses during the early weeks of the pandemic, CSEA employees did not let that interfere with serving the LUSD community.

Cordoviz said the union has representation on the district’s safety committee that meets bi-weekly, and when it receives reports such as DeLeon’s they are immediately discussed at meetings.

He said the committee would be looking into DeLeon’s allegations.

“We commend (all CSEA employees) for their efforts, despite the risks associated with continuing to support our students,” Cardoviz said.

“Our members have been informed that they need to let us know their concerns without fear of retaliation, and with district cooperation, we do our best to address this kind of report the day we receive them. We hope the parents who send their children to Lodi schools know that classified workers do their best, under public health and district guidelines, to keep staff and students safe despite the challenges we face everyday.”

In an email to the NewsSentinel, the district said the safety of its staff and students was its first priority.

“All schools and worksites are fully equipped with PPE and the District has provided employees with PPE so that they can work safely on site,” the district said. “The district is following safety protocols in alignment with guidance from state and local health officials.”