Wildcat Den Café planned for Bethlehem school

BONIFAY - Teacher Sheila Richards and Principal Jerry Dixon of Bethlehem High School spoke with the Holmes County School Board at the regular meeting Tuesday morning on the progress being made with the culinary academy at that school.

Richards said they have partnered with O’Charley’s Restaurant of Panama City, including the restaurant’s donation of all their old culinary equipment to the academy.

“These students will gain more valuable experience now that they’ll be working with equipment actually found in restaurants,” said Richards.

She also announced plans to create a café setting at the school, duplicating the exact atmosphere the students would work in the future, complete with kitchen, dinning room and waiting area.

“The name of the café will be the Wildcat Den Café and, sorry to say, will be open and available only to staff and faculty members since we haven’t the means to get the licensing needed to have it open to the public,” Richards said.

“We’re hoping with this exact duplication of a restaurant the students will have the experience needed to do well when going into the work force and do so with confidence because they’ll be familiar with the settings.”

She said that as soon as students leave high school, they should be certified to go into a restaurant of their choosing and be able to make more than just minimum wage.

There is also the possibility the graduate would not have to start the job at entry level, but be able to start in a higher, even management position because they will be going in certified and experienced, said Richards.

“As we’re supporting them we are also seeing this as supporting the academies and I feel that this is something we should all strive to support,” said Superintendent Steve Griffin.

“That is why we’re really pushing for the success of this program.”
Dixon said that he was very proud of the progress of the academy and the work done by Richards.

“You’ve got to have enthusiasm to take this project as far as it can go and she’s got it,” said Dixon. “I appreciate her because she’s not just sitting and waiting for something to come to her, she’s going out, doing all she can for the sake of the students and working hard for it.”

Also, the school board agreed to the 2008-2009 contract agreements with Children’s Therapy Place, Educational Consultants Releah Lent and Linda Walker, Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort, Inc.