After the second semester of the 2009-2010 school year, The Café at Culinary will be shut down by the San Ramon Valley Unified School District because of violations of district policy.

The school district has a contract with the Chartwells School Dining Service, whose food is sold in the Commons. The Café at Culinary is a program run through Monte Vista, but not a part of Chartwells, so it is considered “other food sales”. According to the district Board Policy 3554, “Such (other) food sales shall not impair the food service's ability to be financially sound.” Since the student–run program has customers that might otherwise buy from Chartwells, it is considered in competition with the food service as it receives money that Chartwells could profit from.

According to the district board of education meeting minutes from August 14, 2009, “Last year there was a decrease in the number of meals served (by Chartwells) … the district is facing a $462,472 deficit from the food service program (Chartwells) and possibly another deficit of $427,487...”

The death of The Café at Culinary will cause a ripple effect for Monte Vista, and especially for the Culinary Academy. Chef Kellie Joe, founder and instructor of the Monte Vista Culinary Academy, saves the profits from The Café and uses it for her classes’ needs, such as repairs in the kitchen, food purchases, and funding educational field trips. On average, The Café profits a small $25 per day, but every penny of it goes to the Culinary Academy. The lab fee of $135 paid by each student doesn’t even cover half the year’s food and supplies, so The Café fills in the necessary funds.

Also, The Café allows the advanced culinary students to run The Café, where they are able to gain experience in the food service world: They manage the cash registers, check inventory and learn customer service and barista skills.

“I am upset to see The Café at Culinary closing because being involved with it has taught me many skills that will help me later in life,” said, Caroline McConnell, teacher’s assistant for Chef Kellie Joe.

The Café not only benefits the students in culinary, but also its many customers. At break and lunch, The Café provides a menu of 75 percent organic foods, 100 percent healthy and  nutritious foods, and foods with fewer than 450 calories.

“It’s a very nice place and it has great and delicious food and the people are always so nice and quick with your orders,” freshman Samantha Tkel said.

The Café student consumers, culinary students and especially Chef Kellie Joe, are all saddened by the café’s prospective closing next semester.

 Chef Kellie Joe is unsure what the future holds, but she hopes to create a different way to fund the Culinary Academy. At the moment, there are no plans for The Café at Culinary space, but, “when one door closes another one opens, and it’s bigger and better,” an optimistic Chef Kellie Joe said.