SHREVEPORT, La. — Preschooler Colton Horne moved a tray loaded with corn bread, rice and gravy, meatloaf, cabbage, orange slices and milk down the lunch line at J.S. Clark Elementary, pausing at the end of the line to slowly and proudly say, "5-0-5-9-9-7-0." The cashier entered Horne's lunch identification number as he turned with great purpose making his way to the table to eat.
School lunch time is akin to a detailed military maneuver — its efficient deployment crucial to the following wave's timeliness and success.
"Baby, hold your tray up, hold your tray up," Program Coordinator Susan Cole said as Horne passed her in the aisle. "You're going to spill your cabbage everywhere."
Right behind Horne was his friend Trigger, who repeated Horne's steps moving quickly to the table at the end of the cafeteria.
In a busy cafeteria, one class running off schedule, one mishap in the line, or one student forgetting his lunch number can cause back-ups that effect every class that follows.
Ouachita nutrition supervisor JoLynn Correro said planning and organization has allowed cafeterias to maintain a lunch period long enough for students to eat a nutritious meal and in most cases enjoy a little social time before returning to class. But she agrees, lunches can seem rushed at times.
"We all try to work together to get the kids in there and served so that they have the amount of time that need to get in there and eat," she said. We want the children to enjoy themselves but eat a nutritious meal. We want them to have time to do both."
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recommends schools allow about 30 minutes each day for students' and teachers' lunch periods. Schools and school districts are allowed to determine the length of lunch periods within the instructional day.
But, is 30 minutes enough for students to make it from class, through the lunch line, eat their meal and back to class even under the best of circumstances?