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DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – A DeKalb County middle school’s cafeteria will have to improve to stay open after it recently failed a health inspection.

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In the report by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Druid Hills Middle School received a 63 out of 100 on Feb. 27 – seven points lower than a passing grade.

Inspectors noted several violations, including an employee who returned from the restroom to serve students without washing their hands.

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The report also noted the school had been storing milk, lasagna, and bean and cheese burritos at more than 41 degrees and salads prepared without using proper cooling methods.

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Among the other violations included expired boxes of yogurt, a broken kitchen sink, and a lack of a certified food manager.

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The school was given orders to correct some of the violations in the days after the inspection, or it would have to voluntarily close until they were corrected.

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Druid Hills Middle School officials reportedly notified parents of the failed inspection in a letter to parents.

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In the letter reported by Decaturish, principal Sheveeta Bonner wrote that “ensuring the well-being of our students and staff is of utmost importance to us, and we take this responsibility very seriously.”

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“Immediate corrective actions have been implemented in response to the inspection findings. These include comprehensive staff retraining and installing a temporary portable freezer while awaiting necessary repair parts,” Bonner wrote.

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The principal said that they expect to be reinspected by health department officials on or before March 12 and are confident in passing. 

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The school’s last two health scores were 86 and 100 in October and March 2023 respectively.