New look on menu at Barnwell High cafeteria

Barnwell High School’s cafeteria doesn’t look or taste like a traditional school lunchroom anymore.

The cafeteria was recently transformed into a restaurant-style dining experience, complete with a new floor, swivel chairs, booths, and wall art featuring the horseshoe and horse head. The old, leaky windows were also replaced. They also added SmartMouth pizzas, which are more restaurant quality than traditional pizzas on school lunch menus.

“The cafeteria upgrades give our students a fresh, modern place to not only enjoy their lunch but to spend time with their friends. The addition of SmartMouth pizzas to our menu has only enhanced our student’s enjoyment of our new cafeteria,” said BHS Principal Franklin McCormack.

During an April 12 open house, school officials were joined by students and representatives of partnering organizations that made the Warhorse Cafeteria possible.

“We are so grateful for everyone who worked together to make this project happen! We know it is our partnerships and our people that make us so strong,” said Dr. Crissie Stapleton, superintendent of Barnwell District 45.

The project began as a partnership with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) and the American Heart Association several years ago. The challenges of the pandemic slowed the plan a bit.

“When we began meeting with the American Heart Association and SRNS to determine ways we could positively impact food and nutrition services within our district, they kept asking what more they could do to help. Those brainstorming sessions culminated into so many positive outcomes for our school district. The greatest of which was a loaned professional SRNS agreed to share with the district for an extended period,” said Stapleton.

Kristin Huber, who works in community relations for SRNS, was the loaned professional. Though she left before the cafeteria project came to fruition, Huber began the project by finding vendors, getting quotes, developing floor plans, and more.

“While she was here, she did many other things, as well – including helping us with rebranding our food service department, writing grants that funded new equipment in cafeterias within the district, helping with our social media presence and communications with families, exploring other options to expand our current food services, and so much more. SRNS also donated part of the funds to purchase the new cafeteria furniture we have in the Warhorse Cafeteria today,” Stapleton said.

Studies show a direct link between eating enough food and better test scores. That’s why “having somewhere beautiful to eat” is vital to making sure students are getting enough nutrition by making them want to eat school meals, Huber said.

The changes are noticed and appreciated by students, including seniors who can leave school for lunch.

“Ever since I was a freshman, I used to watch seniors leave for lunch and couldn’t wait to have that privilege,” said senior Jayla Neal. She started her senior year by leaving school to eat lunch at McDonald’s, but now loves eating in the cafeteria since the renovation, especially the new pizza. She said she is a pizza expert, and the new school pizza is the best.

Senior Christian Smith echoed what Neal said. He talked also about how great the pizza is and how much he enjoys the new cafeteria. They both talked about loving the new tables and swivel chairs.

The superintendent thanked Mike Beasley, who oversees all facility projects in his new role of director of operations for the district. Prior to being in that role full-time, he was already helping with facility projects across the district. He worked closely with McCormack to determine the color of the flooring, the design of the branding, the design of the tables, and more.

“Anyone that knows Mr. McCormack knows that the branding is important and it must have that perfect Barnwell red,” said Stapleton.

Director of Food Services Teresa Zorn and her staff were also thanked for their work, including being open to new ideas to improve our food service program.

Attendees of the open house had the opportunity to taste one of those new and innovative ideas – new personal pizzas they make for high school students daily. Food service staff and McCormack visited Batesburg-Leesville High School to learn about and taste SmartMouth pizzas after BHS students suggested the addition.

“We felt we not only needed this new place with a restaurant style but also needed better options for our kids to eat,” said McCormack of adding SmartMouth Pizza.

The new cafeteria will serve students for years to come.