Keep it classy not trashy.

The consistent messiness of the lunchroom is a neglected issue that continues to get worse.

Students are trashing the lunchroom with leftover food and lunch trays. The lunchroom has been a neglected issue that isn’t getting better. The mess is taking a toll on people in and out of the lunchroom and has to stop.

Every day, students make their way to the lunchroom to eat and socialize with friends. When the bell rings and it’s time to leave, students are carelessly leaving a huge mess. “Unfortunately, every day there is a fair amount of trash left on the tables and under the tables,” said Kari Stewart, freshmen principal. Leaving food on the floor and tables, not taking up trays and not cleaning up spills are only a few of the issues.

Students know they are making a big mess but don’t care because they aren’t the ones cleaning it up. “I see other kids throw things on the floor and leave their trays on the table every day,” said sophomore Olivia Masden. Actions like these are what have lead to the lunchroom becoming the day to day disaster it is.

Students are also aware of how messy the lunchroom has become. Some even have to clean up after others before they can eat their lunch. “Everyday when I get to lunch, I have to clean my table off with a napkin because it’s so messy. I hate sitting my backpack down because there is food everywhere,” said Masden.

The lunchroom gets messier as the day goes on. Students are lazy and don’t want to take the effort to clean up after themselves. “Third or fourth lunch has to be the worse. Students are in a hurry and wait until last minute when the bell rings to take up their trash,” said lunch lady Amy Fechter.

Not only does leaving a huge mess show a lack of respect for the lunch ladies, it makes it a lot harder on them. “I know they are aware of the mess they’re making but they don’t understand how big of a toll it takes on us,” said Fechter.

Since the mess hasn’t gotten any better, some of the faculty are proposing a solution. They are thinking about making an incentive for kids to clean up after themselves. “Each lunch that is clean would score a point. The lunch that has the greatest number of clean days will earn ice cream for the entire lunch,” said Stewart.

As of right now, the faculty will be making efforts to help the cleanliness of the lunchroom. “We will be making reminders, politely asking students to take their trays up, review lunchroom norms and post signs,” said Stewart. Hopefully, these efforts will help the lunchroom maintain cleanliness and make it easier on the students and staff throughout the day.