A $200,000 grant from the School Nutrition Foundation will allow the Watson Chapel School District to update its cafeteria furniture and expand dining options for students.
District food service director Paula Bailey has been awarded the AmTab K-12 Food Court Furniture Grant, according to a news release.
The grant is one of the foundation’s Equipment Grants that help school meal programs overcome staffing, budget or operational challenges.
AmTab is a manufacturer of cafeteria furniture and will provide up to $200,000 worth of its products to the district.
Bailey said in the news release the high school cafeteria, which opened in 1977, “has an industrial and drab feel that does not reflect the dynamic energy of the school.”
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The cafeteria will be remodeled, and the school will be reconfigured to the junior high campus when the new Watson Chapel High School opens with its own cafeteria next year.
“Our surveys list the cafeteria’s atmosphere as one of the main reasons students prefer not to eat lunch there,” Bailey said.
“The cafeteria is also used by our band and dance programs and other community groups. Upgrades are needed to provide them with a more functional area and nicer, more inviting space for celebratory school events.”
According to the release, only 45% of students at the campus participate in school meal programs, although all students are eligible for free meals.
WCSD Superintendent Keith McGee said the goal of the remodel is to encourage 100% of students to take part in the district’s meal program.
“They’re going to add serving lines so we can add variety of options of foods like (a) salad bar, sandwiches and hot meals,” he said.
“Our goal is to create an option where our kids can eat in the cafeteria, but we want 100% of kids eating breakfast and lunch. We will expand our food offerings early in the year.”
McGee added he was not immediately sure how much of the grant money would be used toward the food offerings.
The foundation reported additional funding supports programs working to expand fresh and scratch-made menu options, increase efficiency and enhance the cafeteria experience.
“The grant is allowing us to set up the stations and have more seatings. We’re trying to make it more kid friendly,” McGee said.
A new-look cafeteria will increase student participation, Bailey said.
That, in turn, can help ease budget concerns and enable the school nutrition team to have a greater positive impact on student eating habits, according to the release.
“A school’s environment affects how students feel physically, mentally and emotionally, and it’s important to provide students with a warm, welcoming place to eat,” foundation chair Becky Domokos-Bays said.
“The AmTab K-12 Food Court Furniture Grant will assist the Watson Chapel School District with the transformation of their cafeteria into an inviting place for students.”
The WCSD was also awarded one of 50 Innoseal Set-up Kits — including two professional seals and a case of 28-pack multi-color refills — through another grant from the foundation that enables schools with an efficiency bag-sealing machine to keep fruits and vegetables fresh, according to the release.
The foundation is the charitable arm of the School Nutrition Association, a nonprofit professional organization representing about 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country.