Last year, the eighth grade class met with their Directors of Cross Grade Communication (DOCCs)– cabinet members who introduce eighth graders to student government– to write a proposal for student government. The proposal introduced to the school’s cafeteria a combo meal that would include one entree, two sides, and a drink. The purpose of the proposal was to create a less expensive meal option for students.

In their proposal, the class of 2020 wrote that “a lunch with a combo option would encourage students to eat more full meals, rather than eating a few small items, that won’t produce enough energy for people to academically and athletically succeed throughout the day.” They stated that the prices in the cafeteria are unreasonable and that there should be a less costly option.

Once the cafeteria was renovated this summer, the Quest staff began selling a combo meal that is similar to what was proposed by the eighth grade, but with a few small changes. Currently being sold in the cafeteria for $5.75, it includes a choice of a hot or cold sandwich or wrap and a choice of two sides such as chips, pieces of fruit, a fruit cup, a small bar salad, or string cheese.

Head Chef Zac Maness played a large role in bringing the combo meal proposal to life. “We set up some meetings with Ruth Jurgensen and Jeanne Barr, and some emails went around,” Maness said. “Last year, we said that we’re waiting for the reconstruction to happen, and once it happens we’ll be able to offer a combo meal easily with our new sandwich station.”

The creation of the combo meal was successful, but not without compromises. “We know that everyone wanted to have a cookie and a drink in the combo,” Maness said, “but it wasn’t financially feasible with the range of the pricing.”

Although the combo meal was designed to help students, it has also been helping the cafeteria staff. “It’s helpful for us also,” Maness said, “because now we just press one button for a combo meal of four items, instead of pressing four different items.”

Freshmen Alex Ori and Abri Berg took the lead with the proposal. “It started with people brainstorming ideas,” Ori said. “Our grade came up with this idea because many students weren’t satisfied by the lunch meals and wanted to change the prices. After we got the idea, we thought of ways to get it working in the school.”

The two students agreed that the process of creating the proposal was easy because of their DOCC’s. “We worked with our DOCC’s, the administration, and the student body during student government,” Berg said. “Our DOCC’s did a great job of keeping us informed, helping us with meetings, and encouraging and helping us to get in front of the whole high school to present it.”

The work of the DOCC’s did not solely take place during school hours. “They also helped us meet with Ms. Barr before and after school, and provided lots of encouragement to present it,” Ori said. “They took a lot of their personal time to help us every step of the way with the new process of student government, and we’re really grateful for that.”