Hinsdale South Lunchroom 'A Little Tight'

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale South High School has heard parents' concerns about a lack of lunchroom space, an official said last week.

At a Hinsdale High School District 86 board meeting, interim Superintendent Raymond Lechner said he looked into the issue.

He said the cafeteria supports 450 students. The highest demand is during sixth-period lunch, with 437 students, he said.

"It's a little tight," Lechner said. "I took a tour of the cafeteria today during sixth period. Given the recent heat wave, most of the students understandably chose to eat inside. The room was full, but there were actually open seats that were clearly available."

He said he noticed some students decided to stand around the high-top tables to accommodate their friends.

It takes a few weeks for students to adjust to lunchroom spaces after they start a new school year, he said.

"They have to learn and adapt to the space themselves," Lechner said.

The capacity concerns, he said, should ease with more students eating outside during the cooler weather.

Also, he said up to 75 students per lunch period will eat somewhere else starting Sept. 12 while receiving academic assistance.