By J1 Reporter Jacqueline Juan

At Marrs Middle School, a public school, students rush into the breakfast lines as early as 7:20. Hot and cold breakfast options are served to the students as the kitchen staff begin to get their day started. Prepping for lunch hours ahead, the staff have music to fuel their energy and rush to have everything ready on time. Private and public schools have this very thing in common, the time consuming process of preparing meals for each student to eat, and on time. 

With various rules and restrictions, lunch staff in public and private schools have their differences and similarities. Public or private school, the job as a lunch staff is not necessarily easy since they are required to serve hundreds of students every day. In public school there is tighter restriction on the food they are allowed to serve, limiting the options on the food including the budget they are given.

Mr. Bob Hurtado, who serves as the Food Services Manager in Marian’s very kitchen, explains how he, “Wouldn’t work in public school due to restrictions just because of lack of creativity.” The food served at lunch are initially menu items from Hurtado’s restaurant and catering business. He is contracted by Marian to coordinate the school lunch program. The staff that prepares and serves the food are then contracted by Hurtado. 

Although at public school there are restrictions, there are also benefits not offered at private schools. When asking sophomore Therese Kaven about the lunch staff at public school she says, “They were nice at my school unless you were negative. They didn’t care as long as you paid [your lunch balance] by the end of the year.” Having free or reduced lunch isn’t uncommon at public schools because they are granted money to help assist their students. Marian has donors that help with students who would qualify for free or reduced lunch, but the process is quietly part of the tuition assistance program.

Pay for the lunchroom staff in private schools may differ from public schools depending on the agreement they have with the separate company providing food for the students. But, no matter what, it takes a special person to be part of the staff who provides lunch and a smile to students day after day.