Stepping up in his new position, cafeteria manager Pete Krall is changing the environment of the school cafeteria after taking over for the previous cafeteria manager Pam Forster.
According to Krall, Forster retired at the beginning of last year after 30 years of working at Souderton. “She worked the first week [of school], just to help transition and then I’ve taken over now full time as of last year,” Krall said.
Forster retired because of age after working for around 30 years.
“Pam did a really nice job in training me and getting me ready to take over the position,” Krall said.
Prior to working at Souderton, Krall worked at Legal Seafoods in King of Prussia for around 13 years. He wanted to have a “different schedule and a different lifestyle” and Souderton provided that by giving him more time off, including weekends and holidays.
According to Krall, he enjoys his job because it was a “lifestyle change” from the restaurant industry.
Another reason Krall enjoys his job is because of how satisfying and rewarding it can be.
“Feeding children and students is a very fulfilling opportunity for me,” Krall said.
According to Krall, he has to make sure that “the kids are getting complete meals, especially because breakfast is free for all students.”
Sometimes, when the rest of the cafeteria staff is busy, he helps serve meals.
“I monitor the kitchen. I make sure the pizza station’s running. I make sure the grab and go area with cheeseburgers and chicken patties or whatever’s on that menu, they have all what they need down there,” Krall said.
Krall said that recently there have been “menu changes” with things such as “new products in the grab and go area,” and “sodas.”
Cafeteria cashier Cheryl McKay said some exciting changes are the decorations.
“I think the changes that are exciting for the kids are when they do the banners for the tacos. They hang that stuff up,” McKay said. “The menus have changed a lot. They’re just trying to reach every palate out there.”
“The choices of foods they have recently have been really, really good,” McKay said.
McKay likes the cafeteria’s current work environment.
“[Krall’s] very good. He’s relaxed [which] makes for a nice work atmosphere. Everybody gets along [and] you don’t feel like there’s any tension,” McKay said.