As culinary students returned to class on Monday, Nov. 27, following the long break from the strike, they discovered that their classroom had been shut down due to a mouse infestation, prompting them to evacuate and reconstitute themselves in portable 1.

Without access to their kitchen and equipment, the classes are unable to cook or continue their curriculum.

“Monday, when we returned to school after the strike, I went into my classroom, and I actually thought a bag of black sesame seeds had spilled everywhere, and it was mouse poop,” Chef Caitlyn Hacklander said.

Due to the move, Hacklander has been forced to create lessons to teach students culinary without actually engaging in it. “Unfortunately, I found out we were doing this after I had bought a bunch of ingredients for cooking for the week,” Hacklander said. “Everybody is in this class because they really want to cook, and we are not cooking in the portable. No one wants to be back in there and cooking until we know there’s no mouse evidence.”

The exact timeline remains unclear, but progress has been made.

“We are hoping to reopen the room next week,” said Vice Principal Sean Murray on Dec. 6.

In the meantime, the focus is on sanitization.

“We are working to sanitize and clean the room, all the dishes, and check food supplies and ingredients,” said Murray.

Hacklander said that these types of setbacks are reasons why teachers fight for better working conditions. “This is what we strike for, to make sure we have a rodent free space,” she said, adding, “This is the first time we’ve ever had it in the culinary room, and it’s being taken very seriously because we literally cannot do our class,” she said.