School attorney Randy Hesser swears in new board member Jeremy Mullins at a school board meeting on Monday, Oct. 17.

WARSAW — Three area school cafeterias will be expanding after a motion was approved by the Warsaw school board.

Financial advisor Brandon Penrod explained that the Eisenhower Elementary School and Harrison Elementary School’s cafeterias will be doubling in size. After the construction is complete, each cafeteria will have roughly 23,050 square feet.

Penrod mentioned the cafeterias are lacking in storage. Even some head cooks offices have been used as storage areas.

“Storage is pretty thin,” said Penrod.

Warsaw Community High school will have their kitchen and cafeteria spaces redone. After construction is completed, they will have added 4,500 square feet to the 8,001 square feet they currently have. Penrod mentioned the cafeteria right now technically only has space for 501 students. Fifteen square feet is to be allotted per student in the cafeteria, however, the minimum of students in the cafeteria for lunch right now is currently 680.

It is estimated each Elementary School Cafeteria will cost $600,000. The high school project will cost about 1.7 million. The board approved 5-0 for the schools to begin construction on the cafeterias.

Assistant Superintendent David Robertson told the board about the new Raptor System the schools are adopting. As of January, all Warsaw area schools will begin using an automated check-in system. Individuals will have create an account during their initial check-in. Every check-in after that will simply require individuals to scan their state-issued ID and select what their purpose is to visit the school. Visitors will then receive a printed badge for them to wear during their visit.

New board member Jeremy Mullins was officially sworn in during the board meeting. Mullins was voted to be the new district 5 school board member at the last school board meeting.

Robertson gave the board a recap of the Back to the Days that was held at Harrison Elementary a few weeks ago. Robertson stated 550 fourth graders attended the event. Back to the Days included 24 stations positioned around the lawn of Harrison Elementary, with each designed to teach students about the history of Indiana.