5 things: Mobile meal order surge leads to long pickup lines at Notre Dame

Each Friday Food Management compiles a list that highlights five things you probably missed in the onsite foodservice news that week and why you should care about them.

Here’s your list for the week of August 31:

With limited hours at the dining hall and less on-campus dining options during the campus shutdown and due to the pandemic, Notre Dame students are pivoting to ordering takeout from on-campus retail locations. However, this shift has created long lines and wait times at these locations via the Grubhub app, with some students experiencing wait times of over two hours.

Senior director of Campus Dining Chris Abayasinghe said adjustments had to be made in order to pivot to a takeout-only model at the beginning of this school year, and that with students exclusively ordering through Grubhub, there was a learning curve for both Campus Dining staff and the Grubhub app’s algorithm..

Read more: Students experience long wait times at on-campus restaurants via Grubhub app

Of all the challenges that Mayor Bill de Blasio faced in his push to reopen the nation’s largest school system in a pandemic, the city’s powerful teachers’ union presented the most formidable obstacle, threatening an illegal strike as soon as this week.

Related:5 coronavirus things: Most dining locations at UT-Dallas to close until further notice

But after a flurry of late-night negotiations, the mayor reached a deal early Tuesday with unions representing teachers and principals, clearing the path for New York City to become the only major school district in America to welcome children back into classrooms this fall.

The city’s 1.1 million schoolchildren will now start both remote and in-person classes on Sept. 21, 10 days later than originally scheduled.

Read more: New York City Delays Start of School to Ready for In-Person Classes

After a spike in coronavirus cases a week into the start of fall classes at James Madison University, the college is switching to a mostly virtual format. With some exceptions, students are being asked to leave campus by Labor Day.

Since students returned to campus in late August, the university has reported more than 500 active cases of COVID-19, and some 55% of its isolation beds are in use. Self-reported cases totaled 120 Tuesday—the highest number since classes resumed Aug. 26.

Read more: Following 500-Plus COVID-19 Cases, JMU Goes Virtual And Asks Students To Return Home

Related:Should your college campus dining be self-op or contract?

A recent survey of high school students by Bradley Corporation finds 58% are nervous about returning to school in person due to the Coronavirus. Around the country, the level of concern is highest among students who live in the Northeast while those in the Midwest are the least concerned.

The survey also found that hand hygiene is top of mind for 48% of high schoolers who say they're worried they won't have enough time to wash their hands during the school day. The findings come from the Healthy Handwashing Survey™ conducted by Bradley Corporation. The online survey of 1,050 high school students ages 14 to 18 was executed August 20-21..

Read more: Majority of High Schoolers Concerned About Coronavirus and Returning to Class

Things are looking up for the local airport’s restaurant and doughnut shop, an official said Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic cost Lucky’s Craft Food & Drink and Dunkin’ a lot of customers as far fewer people flew out of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport the last few months. After hitting a low point in April, sales increased 4% to 6% in May, June and July, and 10% the past month, said Rick Sell, vice president of restaurant operations for Metz Culinary Management, which runs Lucky’s and Dunkin’. Sell spoke to the airport board via Zoom during its monthly meeting Thursday.

Read more: Airport restaurants surviving amid pandemic

Bonus: How the country’s 25 largest school districts plan to operate their meal programs this fall

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]