Innovation Fair Project -

Reducing Lunch Line Times

Ryan Fedders
Problem Why it was Selected
● Lunch starts at 11:25; all ● Students end up eating quickly
students seated and eating and/or throwing most of their
normally at 11:40 food away

● Recess/Lunch dismissal begins ● Those that don’t lose recess

at 11:45 - some students have 5 time
or less minutes to eat!

● 4th/5th grades only recess of

● Similar/slightly better among the day
other lunch shifts
Current Procedure
1. Classes enter lunchroom and get in line - cold lunch sits down

2. Get milk and say their name at scanner

3. Enter serving room - splits on two sides

4. Grab silverware, tray, and choice foods (veggies, fruits, etc.)

5. Line converges back into one and they get their lunch choice

6. Leave serving room, grab condiments, and sit down

Possible Causes
● Change in food packaging from last year

● Classes entering at the same time

● Only 3 nutrition staff workers

● Lack of adults in serving room

● Cold lunch students trying to get silverware/napkins

○ Turn and talk - what may strike you as a possible root cause?
Leader Responses
Two elementary and one middle school principal were asked about their
lunchroom procedures

● Teachers stay in lunch room until class is through the line - provides more
supervision
● Staggered entrances - 5 minutes and a new group enters
● One staff member helps students move through lines - keeps everyone
organized.
● Line times vary depending on the menu!
Root Cause Analysis (Interrelationship Digraph)
Solution(s)
1. Supervision will move
a. Used to be where students would say names
b. Moves to where students enter serving room - ensures lines are moving and students are
following expectations
c. Staff on lunch duty

2. Extra napkins and silverware for cold lunch will be provided outside of serving
room
a. Less congestion and confusion in the serving area
Monitoring Effectiveness (example!)
Parking Lot
+ What may go well with this change? - What else could be improved within
this?

? What questions do you have? ! What are some issues that may arise?
Questions