By Lisa Singleton-Rickman
Staff Writer

A new state-of-the-art cafeteria awaits junior and senior high school students when they return to class Wednesday.  The $1.5 million facility will be ready to serve students, said Rosylind Lawson, child nutrition program director for the Sheffield school system.

The cafeteria replaces the 40-year-old facility and is on the junior high end of the campus. The new cafeteria will serve dual purposes as both a food service area and multipurpose room.  It will be used for school banquets as well as public events and includes a drop-down screen for displaying videos for classes.  "We'll have televisions stationed in the building where we'll constantly run news during lunch," Lawson said. "We'll have a great deal of use from this facility besides just serving lunch."

Superintendent Richard Gardner said there have been no administrative changes during the summer and no significant policy changes forstudents.  There have been, however, other capital projects.  Sheffield High School students, in addition to a new cafeteria, will be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter thanks to a new half-million dollar heating and air system installed this summer.  "These are costly but most necessary projects," Gardner said. "We had a boiler blow up last year and knew we had to replace it."

As for scheduling this year, Sheffield Junior High is changing this year to include math and language arts all year long in a 90-minute block.  There will be no significant changes in policies involving students, Gardner said.  We encourage students and parents to read the student handbooks regarding the rules for individual schools," he said.

THINGS TO KNOW

Q: Have lunch prices changed?
A: No. Lunch prices will be the same as the previous year.
Q: Are backpacks allowed?
A: Yes. They must, however, be stored in lockers on school premises.
Q: Are immunization records required for enrolling in school?
A: Students were notified in the summer concerning immunizations. They must be up to date by the start of school.

Cafeteria Manager, NancyByrd

Cafeteria seating area

Dr.Gardner in the serving area

Dr. Gardner's pride and joy: The disposal conveyer that eats lefovers!