The plan includes new flooring, a new ceiling and all new furniture.
A large portion of the Sept. 28 Board of Education meeting was spent discussing the plan for the high school cafeteria. The cafeteria is 50 years old and in need of a serious upgrade.
Earlier this month, the Buildings and Grounds Committee met with an interior designer as well as representatives from New Road Construction and Burlington Township High School to map out the design plans.
The committee plans to start by expanding the kitchen area so it is able to accommodate three serving lines. The current snack shack will be removed and relocated, and a third doorway entrance from the hallway will be added.
The entire ceiling and all flooring will be replaced, and new decor will be added. Since students have had trouble hearing important announcements while in the cafeteria, the committee plans to add speakers throughout the room as well as large monitors that will be used to broadcast information.
All cafeteria furniture will be replaced with collapsible, rectangular tables and stackable chairs, and there will be a dedicated space for college displays and sales such as t-shirts and prom tickets. A retractable dividing wall will be added with dry erase boards on one side and acoustic panels on the other.
Additionally, a double door will replace two exterior windows. Finally, a recessed projection screen will be added and the HVAC soffit will be removed.
If the budget allows, the committee would also like to add an exterior awning and additional eating area.
The end goal is a modern and sophisticated space with better lighting and acoustics that can be used for multiple purposes.
In other news:
• Board member Milton Dilligard recapped the Sept. 17 New Jersey School Board Association Legislative Committee meeting for the rest of the board and the public.
One of the items Dilligard noted was a constitutional amendment to the pension and health benefit will not appear on the November ballot. He also said Gov. Christie has directed the attorney general to file a grievance referencing the NJEA soliciting votes with legislatures to place pension payment on the November ballot.
• Burlington Township High School senior Kelli Hodnett was welcomed as the student representative at the meeting. Hodnett highlighted a few things that have been happening in the school year so far.
One thing Hodnett discussed was monthly hallway projects. In September, student government put motivational notes on freshmen lockers to help them feel welcome in the new and unfamiliar environment. For October, small footballs wrapped in pink ribbon that read “let’s tackle breast cancer” will be put up around the school in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Little projects like these will continue to be done for the rest of the school year, as they are a really good way of fostering school spirit,” Hodnett said.
Hodnett also discussed the school’s upcoming homecoming celebration. She revealed the theme will be “seasons,” and each grade has already been assigned their season.
“Everyone, especially the seniors, are working extremely hard to make sure this is the best homecoming BTHS has ever had,” Hodnett said.
