Is this not how most school lunches are in the US? Why not? Where I'm from we have a large hall and everyone comes in and sits down at the same time - pupils and teachers.
A lot of schools, mine included, have cost-reduced away the kitchen staff and facilities. Food is brought in from a central kitchen and kept in warming bins until lunch time.
Silverware sounds nice, but our school has no dishwashing facility. Utensils and dishes would need to be reclaimed and brought back for cleaning.
