When the fourth period bell rings, a wave of Wilde Lake students crowds into the cafeteria. Students compete to stand in the front of the lunch lines that go out the doors. With the smell of pizza and tater tots wafting to the back of the line, students wait as long as 15 minutes as the school attempts to provide lunch in a timely manner.
With only three lunch shifts this school year, the custodial staff is responsible for serving more students during each shift. In the past, students have been accustomed to having four lunch shifts, each lasting 30 minutes during a two-hour-long fourth period. While the three lunch shifts are still 30 minutes each, there is now a 15-minute break in between each shift. The lunch shifts have been reduced to three to improve student attendance in class and provide more time for custodial staff, according to assistant principal Mr. Matthew Sillers.
Mr. Sillers says reducing the number of lunch shifts encourages students to get to class.
“One of our goals this year is to encourage kids to be in class,” said Mr. Sillers. “The switch is giving students more time to get to their class after lunch.”
However, with more students assigned to each shift, students who buy lunch often spend half of the lunch shift standing in line and are then required to eat in an overcrowded cafeteria.
Nutrition service assistant Ms. Wanda Banks said “the cafeteria is more crowded because of the combined lunch shifts.”
Senior James Shidle says the more crowded lunch shifts make buying school lunch harder because the lines are longer and take up more of students lunch time.
“I would prefer four lunch shifts just for ease of buying lunch and for crowd and line sizes,” said James.
According to junior Emma-Sage Tabi, the lunch lines are longer than previous years consisting of four lunch shifts. This makes it harder for lunch buyers to enjoy the entirety of their 30-minute lunch period.
“The lunch lines are way longer than what they used to be, and it makes me wait longer,” said Emma-Sage said. “I have 15 minutes to eat, especially since I come from the third floor.”
While administration acknowledges that not all students are satisfied with the change to only three lunch shifts, Mr. Sillers says the end goal is for students to benefit from the change.
“I know that not everybody agrees with the three lunch shifts. It’s hard, but sometimes change is good,” said Mr. Sillers.
