WATSONVILLE—Watsonville High School’s cafeteria is showing its age after decades of use and few upgrades.
That’s set to change soon.
This week, the district is reviewing bids for a project that will include demolishing and rebuilding the kitchen, installing new flooring and a vaulted ceiling and retooling the food service line.
“It’s a complete facelift,” principal Elaine Legorreta said.
The work has been sorely needed for years, Legorreta said. As an example, she pointed to a broken section of tiles near the entrance doors.
“This has been missing since I walked this cafeteria as a student,” she said. “And I had my 40th reunion last year.”
The restrooms will be updated, as will the stage in the cafeteria. Freezers now stored in the eating area will be moved to the kitchen, and the serving line will be moved.
In addition, the heating and cooling system will also be updated.
The project, estimated at $3.3 million, is the school’s final allocation from Measure L, the $150 million bond approved by voters in 2012.
Once the district selects a company to do the construction, Legorreta said construction could start as early as January. PVUSD officials hope it will wrap up in time for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
During construction, the cafeteria will be off-limits, and the students will eat in the school’s old gym, which will also house a makeshift food preparation area. Workers will use part of the school’s quad to house construction equipment, Legorreta said.
District officials hope that the new rebuild will help workers feed the hordes of hungry kids who use the cafeteria every day.
“It’s not adequate for feeding 2,000 kids,” Legorreta said. “And I don’t know that it’s ever going to be.”
