Westmont High School has recently faced a major change in its food service — despite almost no students noticing. Last month, our kitchen stopped making food, leading to Westmont students eating food made by… Prospect. When informed about the change, Junior Adam Sarsfield negatively reacted: “So, we’re basically stealing food from Prospect?”
However, as I learned from a chat with Principal Jason Miller, this move has been something planned for a while. (Miller also noted that we’ve been cooking food for Prospect for over a year.) Now, we have entered into a “transition time” for a new kitchen and cafeteria area, as the district will begin the process of renovating the kitchen. Westmont is the last school in the district to not remodel, and the cafeteria and kitchen have been in use since the school opened — in 1965. All of this is happening as part of a greater remodel process for Westmont.
Some of the expected changes: The kitchen will be largely remodeled in the coming years. The defunct snack bar, currently being used for storage, will be knocked down and replaced with an entrance to the new kitchen. Students will soon be able to enter and exit the building on the quad side. While these changes are happening, the food distribution station will temporarily be located in the former trainer room, adjacent to the locker rooms.
Moreover, if a bond measure passes in 2024, the school plans to build a new two-story student union a few years from now, similar to the one at Prospect. A potential design has a 1st-floor cafeteria along with a second-floor lounge. In this scenario, there will be room for students to get food and eat on the first floor while hanging out and studying on the second. Current Seniors (shoutout to the class of 2023!) won’t see these changes happen, but Freshmen and Sophomores will see their school change dramatically — hopefully for the better.
