Cafeteria changes generate reaction among students

One of the most viable options in terms of lunch at Saratoga High has consistently been buying lunch from the cafeteria. This year, even though there is a greater variety in the cafeteria food, students are paying more money for their lunches.

The most significant changes this year surround the pizza and breadsticks with the supplier changing from Papa John’s to Round Table. According to cafeteria head Pam Carino, the switch to Round Table was a change because of the quality of the product.”

“We also changed because Papa John’s was having management problems,” Carino said. “It was affecting our deliveries and product.”

One change, in the form of more pizza variety, has generated positive feedback among students. Aside from the normal choices of cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza, the cafeteria is also selling barbeque chicken pizza this year, a change that has made students more motivated to stay on campus.

“I used to get pizza every day for lunch before I could go off, and I would get really bored of eating cheese pizza pretty much every day,” senior Anup Kar said. “Now I look forward to the barbeque chicken pizza and I'm more encouraged to stay on campus as opposed to going off.”

On the other hand, the new breadsticks have caused some anger among students. In previous years, the breadsticks were sold at a price of $1.50 for two, but the new bread twists are being sold at a price of $1.50 for one.

“The prices are too high compared to other food, and this discourages the general sale of breadsticks,” sophomore Daniel Eem said.

Aside from these changes, the prices of items like a bottle of Gatorade, previously $1 is now $1.50; chicken strips have increased to $3.50 from $3, cookies are $1.50 from $1.25 and fries are now $2 from $1.50. Principal Paul Robinson said the cafeteria does not make profit, but the prices were raised in order to “cover the expenses of the food and the cost of hiring the workers in the cafeteria.”

The cafeteria said the price increases at the school reflect those of the suppliers.

“Unfortunately we do need to raise prices periodically,” Carino said. “The companies we purchase from have raised their prices to us.”