Built to Serve: A Cafeteria Upgrade

Construction has been underway at all of our secondary sites for nearly two years as part of the approved 2023 bond referendum for building improvements.

One of the most impactful outcomes of the bond will be the creation of new kitchens and expanded cafeteria spaces at Park and Woodbury high schools. For years, the existing food service facilities have struggled to keep up with the needs of our growing student population. 

During busy lunch periods, students navigated crowded lines and limited seating. Staff worked tirelessly in tight kitchen spaces not built for modern equipment or high-volume meal preparation. 

“The current kitchens and cafeterias were originally designed for far fewer students,” says Wendy Peterson, Director of Nutrition Services. “The spaces are simply too small and outdated to efficiently serve today’s enrollment.” 

“The lunchroom gets so crowded and loud because we are all bunched up; it's hard to hear my friends,” says Park High School junior Lucy Kleoppel.  

Thanks to the support of our community, that is about to change. Both Park and Woodbury high schools will be debuting entirely new kitchen and cafeteria spaces at the start of the 2026-27 school year as part of the building improvement bond construction projects. East Ridge High School and Oltman Middle School will see renovations to their current cafeteria and kitchen spaces.

“Our nutrition services teams have always consistently delivered quality meals with care,” says Assistant Director of Nutrition Services Bobbie Jo Grummons. “We are beyond excited to have not just updated equipment but adequate space to meet the demands of our schools.”

The new kitchen facilities will be designed to meet current safety standards, improve workflow efficiency and allow for updated equipment that supports scratch cooking and healthier menu options. 

“When we got to physically see that the kitchen prepping and cooking area is easily three times our current space, I almost had tears well up in my eyes,” says Peterson. “We are so thankful that our community is supporting us to provide the best meal experience possible for our students.”

Expanded cafeteria spaces will also provide students with a more comfortable, welcoming environment to eat, connect with peers and recharge during the school day.

East Ridge, Park, and Woodbury high schools will also see the addition of new “grab and go” quick service areas in their cafeterias to provide easy and fast meal options that will alleviate long lines.

“Students benefit from adequate time and space to eat in a calm, comfortable setting,” says PHS Assistant Principal Brian Boothe. “When students have positive dining experiences, they return to class better focused and ready to learn.”

“Our goal is to design kitchens and dining areas that improve operational flow, meet modern building standards and enhance the overall student experience,” says Construction Project Manager Alex Slocum. “We’re grateful to the community for trusting us to bring this vision to life.”

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to the community for supporting our students and for helping us build spaces that truly serve them,” says Peterson. “I can’t wait for our staff, students and families to be able to experience these new spaces.”

As planning and construction move forward, we look forward to keeping you informed and celebrating milestones along the way. 

Learn more about the ongoing construction projects at sowashco.org/construction.