Luis Cuevas says Hermosa Beach school job 'paradise' after 25 years in food service

Luis Cuevas, a food service supervisor for Hermosa Beach City Elementary, described his role overseeing school meal operations and compliance during a public statement. He said his duties include ordering, managing kitchen cleanliness and supervising staff across district sites.

"We have to love what we do and make sure that the kids know that we're there there for them too," Cuevas said, describing a day-to-day commitment to students as part of the job. He said he enforces standards from ServSafe, the district and the county to ensure each location passes required inspections.

Cuevas said this is his first job working in an elementary school and described interactions with children—high fives and candid comments—as a rewarding part of the work. He contrasted that with his prior career, saying, "So I I kinda got tired after 25 years of working 60 hours a week, never having any holidays, never having any weekends, and so working at a school district is like paradise to me."

He framed the position as both operational and relational: ensuring compliance with food-safety rules while also providing a supportive presence for students. Cuevas emphasized staff commitment to service and supervision as central to maintaining program quality and student trust.

The remarks provide an on-the-record account of the responsibilities and personal motivations of a school food-service supervisor and highlight staffing and morale issues common in school meal programs.