Medical Lake store prepares students for job market

Medical Lake High School staff and students who spend money at the Student Store during lunch may not realize that it's more than just a place where they can buy food and drinks.

The Student Store is a work-based enterprise class where students gain some work experience under their belts before entering the job market.

Ann Everett, the district coordinator for special education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), began the class as a way for students to get the foundations of work experience, and learn the skills they need to transition into work.

The class component of the Student Store takes place every morning in first period. In class, students spend the first few weeks training on customer service, etiquette, cashiering, product research and food safety. They also learn how to work with others, and have to acquire their Food Handler's Card - a requirement all food service workers in Spokane County must have in order to handle unwrapped food and drinks.

"Students also learn the 'dos and don'ts' of an interview, how to build a resume and cover letter," Kelly Rolan, one of the teachers of the class, said. "They also learn the importance of being on time and having a teachable attitude."

For their final project, Rolan said students have to go through a mock job interview.

"These components are to help students find employment," Everett said. "Employers want to hire students with skills. After taking the class, students already know how to do some of those things."

They also learn to work with industrial-level equipment from Spokane Community College's Culinary Arts program.

The running of the store is simple enough. Four students work at the store during the shift. One student handles the money, two make drinks and the fourth makes the food. At the end of the shift employees record the cash and inventory on a reconciliation sheet. There are also four managers, all of whom have previously worked at the Student Store.

Students will purchase food items and supplies from Cash and Carry Food Service and Denny's Harvest Foods.

"We work with what's in our budget, but we hope to expand the store," store manager Noah Ray said.

Everett said many of the students will take the class to gain the work experience while others enjoy the hands-on approach. She added that many of the students who work at the store will go on to have traditional fast food and retail jobs. Aryn Gygi, one of the store's managers, has worked at Domino's Pizza for a month.

"Working at the Student Store helped prepare me to get my job at Domino's," Gygi said.

Everett said the challenge for students is to find work in an increasingly competitive, high-demanding job market.

"We're trying to give students an edge," Everett said. "The more experience and help you can give these students, the better."

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.