Students at Ventura, Oxnard and Moorpark campuses will remain awake with full stomachs throughout the next fiscal year, thanks to the reopening of the cafeterias with limited operations.

The food courts are back in service with new management plans. Administrators hope the revamped services will bring reduced operational costs, saving about $20,000 at Oxnard College, around $50,000 at Ventura College and up to $200,000 at Moorpark College.

“You can’t operate a community college without a cafeteria,” said Dr. Tom Kimberling, vice president of Business Services at Ventura College. “I’ve been in the community college for 34 years, and I’ve never been at a college without a cafeteria.”

The cafeterias were closed on June 17 of this year following a decision made by the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees, who cited the cafeterias increased deficit and cost as the major reason for shutting the food courts down. However, after a series of negotiations with the vice presidents of Business Services for the three campuses, the VCCCD, and the Service Employees International Union, the cafeterias were reopened July 1 with a reduced proposed operational cost.

They will remain open as a financially independent program during the next fiscal year to see whether they can break even or make a profit, and still provide an acceptable level of service. If the cafeterias succeed, the VCCCD will work with the SEIU to form a plan to maintain the food courts on a long-term basis.

During this new trial period, the food courts will operate with a reduced staff, and will have fewer pre-prepared food choices. There’s no hot grill-but now the cafeterias are serving sandwiches on more than just one type of bread and giving the students a choice among more than five types of pizza.

“I’m excited [that the cafeteria’s open],” said business major Matan Hershberg, 19. “It helps students out a lot, especially if they don’t have a car or the time to go off campus.”