Over the summer, the cafeteria at CMHS was refurbished. The floors were re-done, serving area and seating was updated, walls were re-painted and decals were added to the walls and windows. All of the updates were part of a project that is estimated to cost around $303,000.

According to KCSD business manager Susan Blesh, the project was “initiated through student requests for an updated cafeteria.”

That got the ball rolling. Soon after, KCSD high school student ambassadors then met regularly with Sharon Berger, KCSD’s food and nutrition service supervisor.

“This needed to happen to offer them a stepping stone into what they are going to see when they move into higher education or when they leave Keystone Central School District,” Berger said. “I led the student focus group for Central Mountain High School. Students met with me many times. We started in the winter and we narrowed the design process down.”

CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS There are a plethora of new murals on the walls of the cafeteria at Central Mountain High School. The entire cafeteria was re-designed and students gave input on graphics, equipment design, layout and color scheme.

When she met with the students, Berger took all of their comments seriously. They shared their ideas with the student body on social media and in informal groups.

“I would take their comments back to (the designer) Palmer Hamilton,” Berger said.

Palmer Hamilton was then tasked with coming up with designs of the new cafeteria. Nothing was off the table, so to speak. The cafeteria will now feature several types of seating, including some high-top tables, seating along the wall and the traditional larger round tables.

On the walls, the decals and designs feature different types of student activities. Academics, art and sports are well represented on the walls. A large “CM” decal somewhat covers the cafeteria’s large window, but still allows for plenty of sunlight to come in.

“When the students saw that, they liked it. But their first question to me was ‘will it take away from the only window view that we have?’ So I went back to Palmer Hamilton and said, ‘what options do you have?’ That’s how it became transparent, so that it lets light in,” Berger said.

CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS The new cafeteria at Central Mountain High School will offer a wide variety of menu options in a food court-style set up. The “Grille” will feature hamburgers, cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches.

Most of the freshly-painted walls are blue and white. Signage that simply says “Central Mountain High School” sits above the window.

All of the graphics highlight the district’s values — Respect for Yesterday, Pride in Today and Plans For Tomorrow. Renovation ideas began in January and the project began to take shape in June.

“We took school colors and we tried to give this more of a contemporary flair and change the look,” Berger said.

As far as food choices go, the “food court style” set up will offer a plethora of options. There will be an “Around the World” station, which will feature some Asian food options, including General Tso Chicken with rice, orange chicken with rice, teriyaki chicken with rice, a barbecue chicken and rice veggie bowl and signature KC bowl. There will also be Italian food options at “Around the World,” including cheese ravioli, spaghetti with meat sauce, a meatball sub, chicken alfredo and chicken parmesan. Finally, there will be some American standards such as a toasted cheese sandwich and tomato soup and macaroni and cheese. The choices will rotate at “Around the World.”

There is also an “On the Grill” feature every day. Some of those items include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, chicken tenders and chicken fries. The “On the Grill” features will rotate as well.

There is a “Pizza and Sides” station, too. There, students will find a variety of pizzas — everything from plain cheese to Buffalo chicken will be offered there. A la carte French fries can be found there as well.

Finally, for students in a hurry, there is a “Grab ‘n Go” station, which features Uncrustables, hoagies, wraps and salads. There is also a “Made to Order” deli where students can construct a sandwich or wrap to their liking.

“The students tell us, very vocally, that they definitely like their wraps and they like all of their sandwiches and they like that to be ‘made to order,'” Berger said.

It’s not all pizza, French fries and hoagies, though.

“(Students) will be able to select a healthy meal from different options. They can mix and match and there will be fruits and vegetables at each of the stations,” Berger said.

Touchless scanning at the register was something developed last year. That will continue this year as students will simply swipe their ID badge at the cash register.

“It will register their sale and off they go,” Berger said. “We purchased these (badges) last year when COVID happened and it worked out very nicely.”

The cafeteria at CMHS had not been updated since the school was built in 1999.

For more information about the meals at Central Mountain High School, visit www.kcsd.us.