Summary

We collected information from a panel interview with experts on the cafeteria, library, and sports facilities. It was discussed that a major problem of the cafeteria was the range of space in the kitchen and the disorganization of the lunch lines. We will solve these issues by expanding the kitchen outward so there is more of a pathway for cafeteria workers to move about efficiently and safely. The problem with the long lines would be resolved by increasing the number of lines and having more sturdy line dividers installed to make lines even more adequate.

Another major conflict in the cafeteria is produce prices. In order to help solve that we will decide to design a small community garden where some fruit and vegetables can grow. Not only would this idea make it less financially difficult to feed children more healthy foods but would also involve Mira Loma in more aspects of the community. On the Eco-Friendly front, we plan to use environment friendly materials, like recycled rubber for the roof, landscape with native plants, and install solar panels. We were told that the biggest part of the budget for a school goes to water use, so installing toilets that use only 1.8 gallons to flush, native plants that take less water, and underground irrigation for the landscape are all ideas we have to conserve the precious water that we receive.

As of now, Mira Loma uses the cafeteria also for events such as award ceremonies, parent nights, multicultural nights, schedule pick-up, and many more. Some limitations of having such a small space to host such potentially big events are that the fold-up tables. They have no storage space of their own so they take away from the space that could be used for more seating. We hope to solve this problem by actually having space built into the wall to store our tables when they are not in use. Currently, the cafeteria has measurements of 91 feet x 72 feet and a capacity of 555 people with tables and 1,070 people without tables. The kitchen has measurements of 22 feet x 36 feet.

The Cafeteria Staff and Vice Principal requested to have a separate room for folded tables so there is more room for events in the cafeteria. Also they wanted air conditioning, blinds for the windows, and a bigger kitchen. We will include all of these in our design to fulfill their wishes.

As far as Energy and Sustainability, it is possible to partner with PG&E and become a part of the School Energy Efficiency program which has incentives and rebates for schools that cut down on energy as well as educating students and faculty of how to do their part of cutting down on energy and water consumption. And we could partner with SMUD in their Community Solar program which will install solar panels in schools and educate the importance of solar energy. In California, the government is involved in the Green Building Standards by giving incentives to schools who are built eco-friendly or are trying to become eco-friendly.There are mandates about how much water can be consumed and how much energy to use but overall, California is a state of incentives, not laws, about green energy. Mira Loma is hugely a recycling community, we have a recycling club, with clearly labeled recycling boxes in every classroom and recycling bins outside. We also are reducing our "carbon footprint" by having a garden that is tended to every year and our scientific curriculum does have a focus on being eco-friendly; as far as projects go, we have the Arcade Creek Project and many other projects (Key Club just had an outing to clean up the river) that help our community in an environmental way. Another thing the district implements is a technological system that tells when a campus' particular grounds need to be watered.