Child Nutrition - Helper

Bethel School District, WA; Spanaway (WA); On-site; USD 16,876,000 - 16,944,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off or Vacation

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Bethel School District is hiring a Part-time Classified/ Child Nutrition worker to set up and serve meals, and to clean serving and kitchen areas. The role includes carrying out food preparation tasks and maintaining safety standards in a school cafeteria environment.

Position offers varied hours: 3.25 hours/day for 170 days/year, 4 hours/day for 2 days/year, and 8 hours/day for 1 day/year. Requires a Washington food handler's permit and background check.

Qualifications

• Requires fingerprinting and background check to determine no convictions involving minors.
• Washington state food handler's permit is required.
• Experience serving food to students is desirable.
• Ability to follow district food handling procedures and safety rules.

Responsibilities

• Sets up serving carts and warming ovens for meals.
• Serves meals to students and staff with appropriate portions.
• Cleans serving areas and stores equipment after meals.
• Assists in preparing food items and stocking serving supplies.
• May perform cash register duties and assist with orders as needed.
• Works to maintain a clean, safe, and organized kitchen and dining area.

Skills

Follow directions

Food handling techniques

Food safety and sanitation

Serve appropriate quantities

Offer vs. serve knowledge

Food service item accounting

Interpersonal relations

Education

Washington food handler's permit

Job description

• Position Type: Classified/ Child Nutrition
• Date Posted: 8/27/2026
• Location: CEDARCREST MIDDLE
• Closing Date: 09/07/2026

THIS POSITION IS FOR 3.25 HOURS PER DAY AT 170 DAYS PER YEAR.

AND 4 HOURS PER DAY AT 2 DAYS PER YEAR.

AND 8 HOURS PER DAY AT 1 DAY PER YEAR.

PAY FOR THIS POSITION:

PSE Salary Schedule Level 2 - $ 21.56

GENERAL SUMMARY

This position's responsibilities are to set up for and to serve meals, and to clean up serving and kitchen areas.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Assists in preparation of various food items.
2. Sets up serving carts and warming ovens for serving meals to provide nutrition for educational achievement.
3. Fills condiment containers; sets up utensils, napkins, trays and other serving items before food arrives. May assist in panning of prepared food.
4. Serves meals to students and staff; serves appropriate quantities; presents food attractively; assists students in assembling meals on trays.
5. Cleans and wipes down serving and meal areas between meal periods; refills containers and serving items.
6. Assists in placing food in serving carts and oven according to proper food handling procedures.
7. Cleans carts, tables and other food serving areas after meal periods; stores equipment.
8. Cleans refrigerator, storage areas, grills, deep fryers, shelves and other areas regularly.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

1. Moves into serving cook position when necessary.
2. May assist in ordering food and supplies.
3. Collects and launders kitchen linen and other items.
4. May perform cashier duties as needed.
5. May serve on various district committees and/or departmental work teams. Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information, consistent with district ethical guidelines.
6. Performs related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to the Director of Child Nutrition. Receives guidance from the Cook Manager.

MENTAL DEMANDS

Performs under strict meal deadlines; required to time task for completion in proper sequence; required to anticipate quantities and order for cost efficiency and proper storage.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Exposed to heat from ovens, burners and steam trays; potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; exposed to cutting and slicing equipment and machines with moving parts; required to stand for prolonged periods; required to move heavy supplies weighing up to fifty (50) pounds and full pans of food; exposed to noise from kitchen equipment and students at meals; required to wear protective clothing; required to assist students by cleaning meal spills. Passage of a pre-placement physical and testing is required of this position (the district will assume the cost).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Education, training, skills, and experience necessary to carry out the assignment, with experience serving food desirable; experience working with school age children desirable.

Allowable Substitutions

Not applicable.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to follow directions and procedures.
• Knowledge of proper food handling techniques.
• Knowledge of food service safety and sanitation.
• Ability to serve appropriate quantities and present food attractively.
• Ability to meet offer vs. serve meal pattern requirements.
• Ability to account for food service items.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students and staff.

Licenses/Special Requirements

• Requires fingerprinting and background check to determine that there have been no convictions involving physical molestation, abuse, injury or neglect of a minor.
• Must complete training in and adhere to district infection control plan.
• Washington state food handler's permit.

PSE UNIT AFFILIATION

Child Nutrition

WAGES AND BENEFITS

• Salaries/Wages
• Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Paid Time Off or Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Other Compensation

Non-Discrimination Policy

Bethel School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, disability, neurodivergence, the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, age, and honorably discharged veteran or military status and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Compliance / Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, Darius Alexander, [e-mail], 253.800.2019; Title IX Coordinator, Mel Boyd, [e-mail], 253.800.2029; and 504 Coordinator, Melissa Munson-Merritt, [e-mail], 253.800.2301. All individuals may be reached at this address: 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387. Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Information about the nondiscrimination and sex-based discrimination policies and grievance procedures, and how to report a concern or complaint: bethelsd.org.