Governor Bev Perdue was a guest speaker at the Watauga High School ribbon cutting ceremony on July 30. The new school is the most expensive K-12 public school ever built in North Carolina:

– Cost: $79.5 million.

– Classrooms: 101, most with Smartboards.

– Property: 89 acres. Purchased from the Edmisten family. Rufus Edmisten was a former attorney general and secretary of state.

– Dining: According to the Watauga Democrat,

…this year’s cafeteria at WHS includes a la cart menu items like subs and pizza from Hungry Howie’s Pizza, grab-and-go salads, a coffee and tea bar and even a dollar menu (think yogurt cup, “breakfast type” biscuits and whole-grain cinnamon rolls).

Some menu changes will reflect the seasons.

“Starting in October, in winter months, we’ll have more soup offerings,” she [Child nutrition director Nicole Mayernik] said.

Expect ethnic flair to hit the taste buds also, as themed bars will be a notable part of the WHS dining experience.”We’ll have more Asian and southwestern fare for students,” she said, “We’ll offer these international themed bars that may change from an Italian bar or pasta-type bar to a Mexican or southwestern type thing.”

One population at WHS that will see the benefits of the new menu? Vegetarians.