Wadsworth High School has recently changed its lunch line system to speed up lunch service and comply with state regulations. The decision to revise the lunch lines was influenced by a state audit which pointed out the compliance issues related to the school’s use of french fryers.
“We were informed that we were not in compliance when serving our french fries,” said Kelly Gnap, the food service supervisor at the high school. “Our previous auditor allowed us to keep using our fryer until it broke down, but the new auditor disagrees. And from a caloric standpoint, the fries don’t meet the guidelines.”
The audit which mainly influenced these changes is set to be held in February since the last audit was five years ago.
According to Gnap, the previous lunch line system presented several challenges, including slow service and theft issues. The old system, which heavily featured french fries, may have been the cause of the slow service. The slow service blocked visibility which may have been the cause of many thefts.
The updated lunch lines now feature all four stations: the first is for subs, the second is for pizza, and both share a checkout for students. The third station offers the main menu, complete with its checkout. Lastly, the snack line is the fourth station, also equipped with a separate checkout for students to get a smaller option without having to wait for a full meal.
The changes in the lunch line formatting are anticipated to greatly improve the overall lunch experience for students and staff. With the removal of french fries, the school aims to speed up the lunch lines and reduce theft incidents by having better visibility over the snacks, drinks, and lunches.
The decision-making process involved consultation with staff and Dr. Suber. The changes were implemented with the expectation that wait times and efficiency in the lunch lines would improve. Gnap’s staff have pointed out that the new system has resulted in faster service.
Despite the positive outcomes seen in the lunch staff, the transition has not been seen positively in the student population. Many students have harsh feelings about the new removal of french fries, and some believe that the new lunch lines cause longer wait times in the sub sandwich lines. Some students have even switched to packing lunches rather than buying a lunch without fries.
“I think the sub sandwich line goes a lot slower than usual,” said Anthony Pardo, a sophomore. “It’s like it is backed up a little.”
The belief that the sub sandwich line is more backed up than usual may be due to the fact of the fries being removed. Since the fries were removed, some may believe that the pizza or main menu has too little food.
“We know students are upset,” Gnap said. “Fries were our top-selling item, and the menu change has affected our [revenue] numbers.”
During the interview, she emphasized the importance of the school’s lunches to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free, Kids Act, which aims to improve healthier eating inside schools. This act was passed by Congress and signed into law by Barack Obama in 2010.
While french fries will still be available once a week, they will be baked rather than fried, which helps maintain order flow and compliance standards. The french fries are set to be only served in the main menu line since the kitchen does not have enough ovens and cannot produce enough fries for each line. This means that when ordering from the sub-sandwich or pizza line, students will not receive the option to get fries in that same line.
“I fully understand why people are upset, but it is ultimately for the good of everyone’s health,” Gnap said.
The new lunch system focused mainly on the removal of french fries, while making a smoother experience for buying lunches. Despite the changes, the school always offers students the opportunity to get double fruits or vegetables in replacement of french fries.
The goal of Gnap’s staff is to create a lunch experience that is efficient, compliant and beneficial to everyone. However, for now, students should expect baked fries on a limited basis.
