Students at DHS to be greeted by new cafeteria and dining experience on Monday

Three stations for food options

Decorah High School students will experience one of the biggest high school renovation changes on Monday as they return from Winter Break.  The new kitchen and cafeteria officially will come on line after some trial runs on Thursday and Friday with teachers, staff and school board members.

The new cafeteria, in the site of the old gym, will feature three different food station sites, allowing students to scramble for their preferences and avoid long lines.  The new system will also allow staff to provide more food options.

Beyond the immediacy of the dining experience, a huge impact will be adjusted schedules.  The expanded facilities will allow staff to serve more students more efficiently, and reduce the number of lunch periods from three to two. The new schedule will eliminate the disruptive practice of splitting some classes into two mini classes with an interruption for lunch break.

Of course the new system and schedules will be slightly confusing at the outset, but school officials did some training prior to break to prepare students for the change.

In other work, asbestos removal continues in some old classroom sites. A wall has now been constructed in the old cafeteria area that will enclose a new orchestra space.

Large group presentation options

Three station menus

Teachers give the system a try

New wall in old caf creates orchestra space