Elem school -sack lunches in classroom from now on!

[shaylyn]

Received notice today that they are doing away with the cafeterias in all elementary schools in our district starting this fall.

They will sell a sack lunch with a sandwich, fruit, milk and a "savory treat"---no more "hot" lunch, no more cafeteria.

The children will eat these sack lunches in their classrooms with their class at their desk instead of the cafeteria. They will be allowed to schedule a "lunch date" with a child from another class provided they get approval from both teachers.

Am I alone in thinking this is ridiculous!?!

 

[Planogirl]

Why can't they go to the cafeteria to have their lunch? Do they plan to replace the cafeteria with something else? What is a savory treat?

I particularly don't like the idea of the kids eating in the classrooms.

 

[lovesmurfs]

The lunch they described sounds a lot healthier than DD's hot lunches at her elementary school! I, too, wonder why they'll eat in the classroom -- is there an issue with paying lunchroom supervisors?

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

When I was in elementary school (lets not mention how many years ago THAT was! ) our cafeteria was turned into a classroom. I guess our building must have been overcrowded?

Anyway, we did eat in our classrooms. They did serve hot lunch in the hallway, though. I remember that if you bought, you had to go down to the cafeteria and they had a table set up outside in the hallway. You bought your lunch and then walked back to class carrying it. Can't even begin to imagine how many of us dropped their lunch over the years!

 

[shaylyn]

All of the schools will still have their cafeterias, they will no longer hire any cafeteria workers to make hot food at ANY of the schools. The cafeterias will sit empty.

They will provide only a sack lunch for kids to buy everyday. The sack lunch will consist of a sandwich, fruit, milk and a treat.

My kindergardener is going to eat in the cafeteria on Monday. They set this up to teach the kids how to go through and get their lunch before they put this new change in. He's been excited about "eating like a big kid" for 2 weeks now, lol. I didn't have the heart to tell him that they are closing the cafeteria next year.

My older kids once went to a school where you ate lunch in the classroom, they had no cafeteria. They provided a hot lunch though. It was not good for them socially (only became friends with those in your class) or physically (I believe). Food was spilled and ground into the carpet, it was so gross! The classrooms smelled all day long from the spilled milk and food. Yuck!

 

[KristaTX]

I can't imagine the teachers responding positively to that if they have to eat their own lunch in a room full of kids that they are having to monitor.

 

[shaylyn]

I can't imagine the teachers responding positively to that if they have to eat their own lunch in a room full of kids that they are having to monitor.

The letter says the teachers will let the kids out for a 30 min recess right after lunch and during that time they will eat their lunch.

 

[BuffettFan]

The letter says the teachers will let the kids out for a 30 min recess right after lunch and during that time they will eat their lunch.

Thats how it was when I was in elementary school. We ate lunch in the classrooms, and the lunch available for purchase sounded exactly like the one described. Then after lunch, if it was nice outside, we had 30 min of outside recess. If there was inclement weather, we went to the auditorium and they showed old movies, or our school chorus sang.... Grades 1-3 ate lunch first, then had recess, grade 4-6 had recess first, and then ate their lunch,

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow, that really stinks OP. You can bring your own lunch, right?

 

[HsvTeacher]

My students think that eating in the classroom is a HUGE treat. We try to do it about once a week. Since the teachers in our school district don't get a lunch break, it doesn't matter to me where we eat.

 

[cinabug]

My students think that eating in the classroom is a HUGE treat. We try to do it about once a week. Since the teachers in our school district don't get a lunch break, it doesn't matter to me where we eat.

Is that even legal? I thought all workers working a certain time period were entitled to a meal break. Is that just in my state? I was under the impression it was federal law.

As for lunch in the room for kids, I suppose it will save a fair amount of money and yet still qualify the school for federal dollars tied to school lunch programs. I think most states are balancing their budgets with education cuts and this may be the lesser evil of many other possible cuts.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't see any major problems with this

I see no issue at all with the only cold lunches being provided aspect of it. Hot lunches at schools are nearly always very unhealthy and no one NEEDS a hot lunch to make it through the day. With the sack lunches available to purchase there is still a way to provide free or reduced lunch to those who need it and still food around for kids who forget their lunch, etc.

I don't think kids will be socially stinted from eating in their own classrooms. They still get 30 minutes out on the playground with all of the other kids.

They will probably end up with More time to eat and to play as much less time will be spent getting everyone down to the cafeteria, through the lunch lines, etc.

Overall I think it is a great idea of how to relatively painlessly boost the budget.

 

[disykat]

I do like the idea of a 1/2 hour recess! Here, usually our teachers get a 1/2 hour break during which the kids eat AND have a 10 - 15 minute recess. Half an hour sounds GREAT!

Years ago, when I was in schools that ate lunch in their room, lunch was usually somewhat educational with the teacher doing a read-aloud during lunch. It actually worked well and the kids enjoyed having that time more structured then getting a nice long recess.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Around here elementary schools everyone brings their own lunch and eats in the classroom. I remember when I was younger the big deal of picking out your lunch box or lunch bag depending.

Im sure your kids will be fine, as far as the socializing aspect we always socialized with other kids at recess, are they not able to socialize with their friends there? At schools around here everyone goes out for the same recess. I really fail to see the big problem I guess with eating a normal lunch in a classroom. For monitors they had older kids be lunchroom monitors, it was considered a big deal to be chosen for that, and it worked out well.

 

[aprilgail2]

Around here elementary schools everyone brings their own lunch and eats in the classroom. I remember when I was younger the big deal of picking out your lunch box or lunch bag depending.

Im sure your kids will be fine, as far as the socializing aspect we always socialized with other kids at recess, are they not able to socialize with their friends there? At schools around here everyone goes out for the same recess. I really fail to see the big problem I guess with eating a normal lunch in a classroom. For monitors they had older kids be lunchroom monitors, it was considered a big deal to be chosen for that, and it worked out well.

But they had adults as monitors too didn't they? Our aides in lunchroom/recess etc have to be cpr and first aid certified in case a child chokes or has a food issue in cafeteria-I can't imagine only having children watching other children.
I don't see our teachers here going for anything like that though- the kids get 20 minute lunch and 20 minutes recess and during that time is when the teachers can run out and get errands done or go out to get lunch. Panera is a big lunch spot with the teachers around here, always run into them at lunch time there LOL.

 

[golfgal]

I think it is a creative way to cut costs without impacting the actual educational programs. I don't understand why they can't all still eat in the cafeteria but even so, I would rather see cuts like this vs cutting academic programs. I can also see teachers getting creative with this for the kids-picnics on the floor with other classrooms, etc.

 

[nmmom95]

But they had adults as monitors too didn't they? Our aides in lunchroom/recess etc have to be cpr and first aid certified in case a child chokes or has a food issue in cafeteria-I can't imagine only having children watching other children.
I don't see our teachers here going for anything like that though- the kids get 20 minute lunch and 20 minutes recess and during that time is when the teachers can run out and get errands done or go out to get lunch. Panera is a big lunch spot with the teachers around here, always run into them at lunch time there LOL.

When I was in school, student safeties watched younger classes. I currently volunteer at my sons' school as a lunch mom, and although I had a background check, CPR is not a requirement. Teachers, however, cannot leave the building during lunch.

I think it is a creative way to cut costs without impacting the actual educational programs. I don't understand why they can't all still eat in the cafeteria but even so, I would rather see cuts like this vs cutting academic programs. I can also see teachers getting creative with this for the kids-picnics on the floor with other classrooms, etc.

I agree with the bolded. I'm guessing that lunch monitor was a paid position, so that would mean no more eating there if that position was cut.

OP-have they discussed using parent volunteers?

 

[bicker]

I think it is a creative way to cut costs without impacting the actual educational programs.

This.

Sometimes, I think folks lose track of what schools are for. Beyond that, remember who is to blame for schools having to come up with creative ways to cut costs: The voters on the town who refuse to fund schools enough to cover all these costs adequately.

I don't understand why they can't all still eat in the cafeteria ....

It becomes one more room to clean. If it remains unused, it can be effectively shut down, and the custodial overtime can be cut a bit.

When I was in school, student safeties watched younger classes.

Something that our society would no longer consider acceptable for a variety of reasons.

OP-have they discussed using parent volunteers?

While parents might have volunteered to be monitors, I suspect they'd have balked at the idea of being obligated to clean the lunch room each day.

 

[Tinijocaro]

My students think that eating in the classroom is a HUGE treat. We try to do it about once a week. Since the teachers in our school district don't get a lunch break, it doesn't matter to me where we eat.

No lunch break?? Do you get plan periods?

 

[DeniseinNS]

It sounds fine to me.

My kids school does not have a cafeteria, they eat their lunch in their classrooms every day. The only day they offer a school lunch is on fridays (we preorder for 4 weeks at a time) The kids still get to play with their friends from other classes when they go outside after eating.