There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the new schedule change since the start of school a couple weeks ago, but one thing that all students can agree upon is that the new chicken sandwiches are incredible. The AHS cafeteria, headed by Food Director Tenille Folk, has revamped its menu to try to please the student body and the results are staggering.

   Folk, who was hired last year to take over the kitchen at AHS, has made an enormous effort to refine the quality of food at AHS by offering a fresher, more varied menu. “My mission is to make food that uses real ingredients–no artificial sugars and no fake fat,” said Folk. “Everything we produce is real food.”

   Last year students were not fans of the newly modified menu and instead opted to drive into town to go to local restaurants like Big Wrap, Tasters and New York Pizza during lunch periods. This year students are lining up trying to get their hands on one of the many new food items offered at the recently created cafe located near the lower level gym. The increased traffic in the lunch line has been quite noticeable.

   “I have been eating lunch a lot more this year than last year. Actually, I never ate lunch last year,” said junior Carter Cheo. “I am really curious to see how busy the commons will be in the winter when kids won’t be able to eat outside. Kids are definitely staying on campus during lunch these days.”  

   The food cafe was a by product of the master schedule change implemented this year. Administrators predicted that the commons would exceed maximum occupancy without the addition of a cafe downstairs, which also provides several tables for students and staff to eat lunch.

   “The cafe downstairs really has been popular among students. I see more kids lining up there than upstairs in the hot-food line in the cafeteria,” said Principal Tharyn Mulberry.

   Folk’s creative approach to the menu this year offers options like crowd-pleasing cheeseburgers and those popular chicken sandwiches, but still provides all the food items from last year. “I think that it really is important for students to eat healthy, but I also understand that it’s important for students to enjoy what is being served,” said Folk. “I really think that the new cafe downstairs gives the menu a new dimension.”

   The new lunch menu items appeal to the large majority of students at AHS, however, prices have significantly increased since last year. Folk concedes that low prices last year meant the lunchroom was running a deficit. “The reason why there is a noticeable discrepancy in food prices from our school to other public schools around the country is because we aren’t subsidized by the National School Lunch Program.” Folk said. “We needed to adjust the prices this year because last year we were in the red-zone.”

   Principal Mulberry has also been trying to facilitate a working with various local restaurants to provide some new and interesting meal alternatives in the commons. “I think that this potential partnership with local restaurants could be really beneficial for AHS and for their businesses,” Mulberry said. “Currently we’re negotiating with places like Big Wrap and Tasters to hopefully begin serving their food here at school.”

   The new schedule change makes for a much more hectic school day making it harder to leave campus during lunch. Plus students need sustenance to survive seven classes a day. The new lunch program addresses students needs and makes sure that the student population is happy, well fed and ready to meet their new academic challenges.