HPMS Cafeteria Closed Through October
I hear that some Highland Park Middle School/McCulloch Intermediate School parents are hopping mad because the renovation of the campus’s cafeteria won’t be finished before school starts a week from Monday. Today’s announcement from the district says students will have to bring their lunches every day, and they won’t be allowed to order in from restaurants.
Later this fall, students at MIS/HPMS will finally have a little breathing room in the cafeteria, thanks to the ongoing expansion project, which will add 6,500 square feet to allow seating for 650 per lunch period.
The work will continue through the end of October, due to design revisions and construction delays, and the kitchen will not be operational until construction is completed.
Since we will not be able to prepare food in the cafeteria, we will not be able to serve lunch while the cafeteria is under construction. Parents, we appreciate your patience and partnership during this process. To keep things running smoothly:
- Students are asked to bring their lunches every day.
- Students who forget their lunches will need to tell their teachers by 8:30 a.m. so that sandwiches can be prepared at another campus and delivered in time for lunch. Their Skyward account will be charged.
- We will continue to sell milk, juice and water. Just be sure to put funds in your child’s Skyward account.
- A light breakfast will be available for purchase for seventh-grade athletes.
- Restaurant deliveries are not allowed.
We’ll have more on this in the Aug. 23 edition of the paper.
Seriously, with all the brainpower in the park cities, can’t someone come up with a solution to this “brown bag” request? Some catering business could really do well here. Feeding 2000 kids for 9 weeks. Hope to hear some creative solutions – maybe food trucks???
Tom thumb: get ready for a run on lunchables.
@lunchmom — really? How difficult is it to pack a lunch for your child? Most HP moms don’t work. Though I realize tennis and cross fit are important, your kids health is more so. If I were an HPMS parent I would be a little peeved that this construction project isn’t complete but not because I have to pack a lunch for my child for two months. Typical Park Cities to suggest “hiring out” the making of a brown bag lunch for their child.
Making a lunch is not that big of a deal. I’ve made three lunches every school day for the last ten years. And saved a bunch of money too. You can do it! Buy a bag of single serving chips, a loaf of bread and some peanut butter or lunch meat, add some carrot sticks, and an apple juice. You’re set! Donate what you would have spent in the cafeteria to a worthy cause. May I suggest supporting arts enrichment in HPISD schools through HP Arts at http://www.hparts.org?
haha! If you only knew! I in fact do support Hp Arts – thanks for the shout out. It’s a great cause. Not a tennis mom either! you may not remember how much 14 year old boys eat. They need more than a carrot stick and a juice box. I’m certainly capable but I recall in the spring, the district implied that they would have a lunch solution in place to feed the kids….
“Work on the project is scheduled to begin in March and continue through the end of September. Food service will not be interrupted this school year, but the kitchen will not be operational until the end of September. School district and PTA leaders will work together to provide meal options during the transitional period. “
@Susan S, don’t send the PB either. Your child will be banished to the non-free peanut zone. Don’t have a dog in this hunt, but I Gotta agree with lunch mom on this one. If you have a kid who has to show up at 6-6:30 for sports practice, a lunchable wont cut it, especially for two months straight. Should have had this one done already. If this were DISD with a glut of kids on subsidized/free lunch program, the impact would be substantial.
Its hard to argue with facts……and lunchmom has got her facts correct, front & center. The failure to meet the construction deadline is the responsibility of Dr Orr ($224,000 per year + $50,000ish in housing, car & stipends), the school board and the contractor.
Qs:
Why were there design revisions? Why didn’t the architect & school board design it right the first time? Why are there delays? There has been little rain all summer & work can proceed 12 hours a day (7a-7p).
I own a construction company, and I can assure you we meet deadlines…..
@HP mom – really back to you. I work full time and have 2 kids at MIS/HPMS. One has to be there at 6 for sports. 2 lunches, and possibly breakfast daily in addition to 2 drop off times daily for 2 months is stressful when you have to be at work by 8 am. I make therm lunch frequently – but for crazy days the cafeteria or another option would be a real help
Actually, it was lunchmom herself who suggested there would be a run on lunchables. My kids played early morning sports too and I know they eat breakfast and lunch and need to. I think the district has some splainin’ to do. It really, pack a lunch. It’s not difficult. Pizza, chicken, sandwiches, salad, pasta. You are not relegated to PBJ. Remember the brain power lunchmom mentioned. Where is it?
While making a lunch is not difficult, it does get old. I too have had to make lunches for years because my children attended a school without a cafeteria. Having a cafeteria is certainly convenient for both child and parent.
I wish there was another solution. I am disappointed we are not allowed to bring in restaurant food – It would make it less monotonous if I could occasionally grab a burger or chick-fil-a for my child. If a parent wants to walk into the cafeteria at lunch and drop off food for their child I think they should be able to. I understand why they would not want children coming into the office to pick up a dropped lunch.
When the cafeteria opens I will be very happy.
its funny
the people are in charge but when the dogs bark
most are afraid to make waves
enjoy your submission
Mom of 4: I agree: if I could cook the lunch at home during the morning and deliver it at the lunch period that would be better than a room temperature sandwich box. I vote to at least allow midday delivery by parent. Just give us options.
Ok, not directed towards anyone … but by 5th grade, each kid could arguably be packing own lunches. Get sack out the night before, water in fridge, non refrigerated food in sack with only sandwiches/refrigerated items to add in the next morning. My elementary students have been doing it since 1st grade (with a double check by me to ensure it is not all chips, cookies and soda but something that might rate kid-friendly healthy – fruit, cheese, carrots, etc). A note taped to the door or the steering wheel helps remind them (and the tired parents driving them) to grab lunch on way out. With 2 at MIS/HPMS, I am bummed but only because I will have to remind them occasionally and keep healthy options ready to go in the bags THEY pack.
Its not the actual process of making lunch that is annoying its the lack of options to send with kids for lunch and lack of ideas to fix this. The kids cant heat up food or keep lunch cold so there are only so many room temperature options to send at 6am. i think someone needs to be a little more creative with their thinking and find some other options. There are some really high end vending machines with healthy choices ( greek yogurt, fresh fruit, hummus etc) those would be helpful. why not purchase 20 microwaves and thousands of lean cuisine and stouffers and have the cafe moms heat them up? Even some freshly made cold cut sandwhiches, salad bar and other cold options would be appreciated.
Be thankful you have a great school and a cafeteria. Many parents and kids would easily trade places. Something to think about.
I forget that all the teachers, the admin and staff have to pack lunch too. Coaches, too! They get there early and stay late – I know they feel the pain, too.
All these comments have me wondering how children have managed to survive the past century bringing sack lunches to school. Wow! First world problems.
Thank you A.B., this is getting ridiculous. If you can’t pack a brown bag, go to the supermarket and have them make you a sandwich. Heck, even 7-Eleven has sandwiches. This shouldn’t be this hard.
As to the construction delay, really? This is such a rare occurrence to spark outrage? Every new home on my street has been over budget and delivered late.
I packed a lunch every single day for an entire year for my private school kid last year. You just have to be prepared and make sure you have lunch stuff … especially on Monday mornings. I will say, some of her lunches were better than others and I was so happy the week of finals when I didn’t have to make her lunch anymore!!! Towards the end of the year, she made a lot of her own lunches. And you will be surprised all the easy pre-packages foods you can get … hummus in small containers, apples with caramel or peanut butter, cheeses and crackers, fruit . I would get pre-made sandwiches from Eatzi’s, too. And just buy several flat ice packs you put in the freezer … It’s no big deal … you get in a routine!
True dat, +1 !!!!!