DATE: Monday, November 3, 1997              TAG: 9711030058

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE 

        STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   68 lines

SCHOOLS SHORT ON SUBSTITUTE HELP SHRINKING EMPLOYEE POOL FELT STATEWIDE

For more than 20 years, Betty DeJarnette Martin has worked in the cafeteria at Point O'View Elementary School in Virginia Beach, serving kids their lunches or cooking behind the scenes.

She remembers the days when hamburger and hot dog buns were made from scratch at the school. And she's seen the rise in prominence of the taco.

``I love (the work),'' Martin said this week. ``I like it all. I like being with the people. I like cooking for the children. I like the compliments we get on the food we cook.

``They even like the mixed vegetables.''

But the work Martin does isn't appealing to everyone, and that's creating a problem for some local school districts. Substitute cafeteria workers are in critically short supply in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. The substitute shortage has also been felt in other support positions: bus drivers in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth; and custodians in Virginia Beach. Only Norfolk reported no problems finding workers.

The substitute pool is often tapped when permanent openings become available, so the shortages may create problems down the road.

In Virginia Beach, the lack of subs has meant using supervisors to fill in the gaps, and it has contributed to some bus delays.

``The pool seems to be shrinking,'' said Eric Hines, director of custodial services. ``It's a statewide and nationwide occurrence.''

On the bus driver front, divisions across the country are struggling with similar shortages. In the era of welfare reform, with more people in the market for work, that may seem surprising. But those familiar with the positions acknowledge that the jobs aren't suited to everyone.

``The work is not easy,'' said Larry Wade, supervisor of food services in Chesapeake. ``I suspect they come and realize it's not a gravy kind of job.''

At the substitute level, most of the jobs pay in the minimum-wage range and are limited to part time. In some districts, applicants must pay for their own criminal background check, an expense which can top $50.

Hines said much of his sub work is at night and some applicants run into transportation problems.

``We have many names'' on the substitute list, he said. ``But the viable pool of people who report when we ask them to where we ask them to is 15 to 20 people.''

That number should be at least 50, he said.

The need for subs has led to some creative search strategies. For instance, Wade's office has been advertising on the menus that go home with students.

The jobs have their plusses. For people with additional commitments at home - particularly their own children - the cafeteria and bus driver hours can be particularly appealing. Evening custodial hours work out well for some. And there may be the opportunity to work into a permanent position.

``The benefits are positive,'' said Wade. ``You participate in the education of young people.''

That has been one of the motivators for Martin, who said she gets a boost from teachers and students who are appreciative of her efforts. Martin starts her day at 7 a.m., cooking breakfast and lunch for as many as 900 students.

``They love spaghetti; they love pizza and tacos and cheeseburgers,'' she said. ``One of the teachers came back today. She wanted to know how we did our vegetables.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

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