Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach has a new food truck, and it is not just for show. Students in the school’s culinary arts program will cook the food, build the menu, and manage the money behind SoFlo Delights, a fully equipped truck donated through Intuit’s Food Truck Program.
The vehicle itself is worth more than $200,000, according to NBC Miami, which reported that the truck will give students a chance to learn culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and the financial skills needed to run a business. Blanche Ely is the first school in Florida and the 12th nationwide to receive a truck through the program, the station reported.
As Axios reported, the truck will be run entirely by students in the culinary arts program, giving them firsthand experience in the culinary and hospitality industries while they practice real business skills. Superintendent Howard Hepburn said the project excites him both for the opportunities it creates for students and for the food itself. “The food truck is an amazing opportunity for students to learn entrepreneurship, culinary art skills and the soft skills needed to run a business,” Hepburn said, adding that students will receive continuous support to help the business flourish, per Axios.
Students Will Handle the Books, Not Just the Grill
The hands-on model goes well beyond the kitchen window. According to the Broward County Public Schools announcement, students will be responsible for everything from developing menus and creating marketing materials to handling all the finances, including bookkeeping, accounting and taxes. That means Blanche Ely’s culinary students are also taking on budgeting and resource management as part of running SoFlo Delights, per Axios…