SUMTER, S.C. — Food service workers in the Sumter School District are getting a major raise, following a unanimous vote by the Sumter County School Board.

The board has approved a 30% pay increase for all hourly food service employees, impacting approximately 140 workers across the district. The raise affects non-exempt staff, including cooks, managers, assistant managers, and cashiers.

“The funds are coming from our operating balance, the food service operating balance,” said Stacey Francis, the district’s Director of Food Service. “We are self-sufficient so [we] carry out our own budget and we pay all the expenses from our operating balance food services.”

Starting pay for full-time workers with no prior experience will increase from $11.66 to $15 per hour.

“Most of them had to work

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