A retired school bus is serving up more than burgers and baked potatoes for Cleveland high school students. It has become a food truck classroom, where students gain hands-on culinary and customer service experience while earning a paycheck.
The Executive Grille on the Go, operated by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), is the city’s only student-run food truck. Staffed by students enrolled in the district’s culinary arts program, the retrofitted school bus allows aspiring chefs to apply classroom lessons in a real-world business setting before entering the workforce.
Chef Michael Szalkowski, a culinary arts instructor with CMSD, said the program has gradually built a following throughout the community, though many residents are still surprised to learn it exists.
“We get so many people from around the community that now know about us, but still say you must be the best kept secret in Cleveland because we didn’t know your program existed,” Szalkowski said via local news.
Szalkowski said the food truck is designed to teach more than cooking techniques. “No matter what you decide to do in life, you gotta know how to interact with people, find your voice and know how to treat them,” he told reporters. “The kids will come to us because they love to bake or cook, and then they get thrown into the front of the house and they have to take a table order, which gets them over a lot of their anxiety and nervousness.”
Students are responsible for nearly every aspect of the operation. They greet customers, take orders, prepare meals and package desserts, giving them experience in both the kitchen and the front of the house.
Students Not Only Learn to Cook But How to Run a Business
The menu features American favorites, including smash burgers, chicken wings and loaded baked potatoes. Customers can also purchase sorbet and an assortment of cookies baked and packaged by students.
The experience mirrors the fast-paced environment students may encounter in restaurants or other customer-facing careers, helping them build confidence, communication skills and professionalism while working alongside instructors.
Students are compensated through Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a Cleveland-based nonprofit workforce development organization that provides paid employment experiences for young people. The partnership allows participants to earn wages while developing practical job skills that can be applied beyond the culinary industry.
District officials say the program demonstrates how career and technical education can extend beyond the classroom by immersing students in authentic workplace experiences. The converted school bus also serves as a visible reminder of how retired transportation equipment can be repurposed to support student learning in innovative ways.
Despite the Executive Grille on the Go going on summer break, additional information, including the truck’s schedule and locations, is available through the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s culinary arts program.
Related: Colorado School Bus Gives Students Experience in the Food Industry
Related: From School Bus to Frozen Yogurt Shop on Wheels
Related: Kentucky School Bus Drivers Provide Food, Supplies to Communities
Related: School Bus Transformed into a Camper and Workshop
