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A car show, bag toss tournament and grilled burgers were offered at the first Luverne High School Senior Night Monday evening in the school’s new commons and the performing arts center.
About 63 seniors gathered for the event hosted by the school’s student council.
The students were sophomores when the $31 million remodel and construction project began.
For many students, Monday night’s event was the first time they viewed the new areas.
“It’s pretty cool,” said senior Chance Tunnissen.
The seniors were the first to eat in the new commons dining area.
Prior to the construction of the main floor kitchen/dining area, students ate breakfast and lunch in the basement cafeteria.
Monday night’s atmosphere is noticeably different.
“It is so bright and airy,” said senior Mia Wenzel. “I may stay and eat lunch here now.”
With the increased seating capacity and larger serving area, food service director Ann Rigney anticipates students like Wenzel who normally went home for lunch will choose to eat at school.
Rigney is preparing breakfast and lunch options for an additional 100 to 150 middle and high school students to dine in school.
Also, there are new menu choices offered at four different stations.
Grab and Go items such as cold sandwiches, yogurt and juices will be offered for sale along with a salad bar choice. Two lines will feature hot entrees as well as hot grab and go items such as pizza or chicken.
“We will be trying things to see what they like,” Rigney said.
Due to coronavirus pandemic relief funding, the regular hot lunch is free to students, but students will have to pay for the grab and go items.
All items will be charged to the student’s lunch account, and parents receive an email as to what was purchased.
The new kitchen is four times the size of the previous space in the basement.
New equipment such as a sandwich warming oven, tilt cooker and combi-oven makes it easier to cook for more students.
Microwaves are also available for students who do bring their own lunch to eat in the cafeteria.
With the main floor commons, school officials have closed the lunch hours for the freshmen and sophomores. Juniors and seniors have the option to leave campus for lunch.
“Kids have so many more choices that I hope they stay and eat,” Rigney said.