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Student urges return of cafeteria microwaves; superintendent cites fire-code limits
Summary
A Bordentown Regional High student asked the board to restore microwaves to the cafeteria to shorten lines and support cultural food choices; the superintendent said household microwaves on extension cords violate the uniform fire code and pledged a feasibility study for commercial-grade units.
A high-school student told the Bordentown Regional School District board on Jan. 8 that removing microwaves from the cafeteria has lengthened lunch lines and disadvantaged students who bring culturally preferred meals.
"I would like to talk about the microwave, and how it's been taken away from the cafeteria," the student said, adding that long lines and food shortages later in the lunch period made the microwaves valuable and that students were willing to fundraise to replace them.
Superintendent (title) responded that household microwaves plugged into extension cords do not comply with the uniform fire code for large spaces and that safety, not policy preferences, motivated the removal. "The uniform fire code does not allow household microwaves on expansion cords accessible to the students in large spaces such as the cafeteria," he said, and described steps the district will take to address the concern.
The superintendent said district staff met with 13 students the previous day and will conduct a feasibility study to determine whether commercial-grade, hardwired microwaves could be installed in a way that meets fire-code requirements and is cost-effective. He said the district will convene a meeting with the food-service vendor (transcribed as "Macchio's") to hear student concerns about long lines, food shortages for later lunches and culturally diverse options, and invited students to participate.
If the feasibility study finds a safe, cost-effective solution, the superintendent said the district would pursue it and would not require students to fund installation "if it can be done safely and it can be done in a cost effective manner." He cautioned that the study is simply an examination of options and does not guarantee restoration of microwaves.
The board chair thanked the student for speaking and encouraged continued participation in the planned meetings. The superintendent emphasized student safety as the guiding principle for any change.
Next steps: the district will complete the feasibility review, schedule the vendor meeting for student input, and report findings to the board.
