District 203 could test breakfast service at 4 schools

A morning meal as classes begin could become a reality for students at two elementary schools and two junior highs in Naperville Unit District 203 if the school board votes to test a breakfast program.

The district hopes an influx of energy could help the roughly one in six students who qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch improve their comprehension, learning, test performance and behavior.

"We have a significant number of students who would benefit from a breakfast option at the elementary and middle school levels," said Melanie Brown, director of finance and support services.

The district sells breakfast for high school students, but only 3 percent of the population at Naperville Central and North participate, which leads to sales of roughly 113 breakfasts a day, Brown said. Breakfast is not sold to younger students, but the district allows junior high students to bring snacks or get healthy foods from the nurse, and teachers let elementary students bring healthy snacks to eat during class.

Before the district starts the bidding process in the fall for its next food service contract, which is set to begin in August 2020, administrators said they want to gather data on how popular a districtwide breakfast program could be. That's why they've asked the school board to consider testing a breakfast option at Mill Street and Scott elementary schools and Jefferson and Madison junior highs.

The test could begin Feb. 4 if board members approve it during their next meeting Jan. 21.

Under the program, food service provider Aramark would set up a cart in each school, allowing students to buy breakfast for $1.50 if they're in junior high or $1.40 if they're in elementary school. Students could receive the meal free or at a discount if their family income qualifies them for assistance with lunch.

Hot and cold options, such as egg sandwiches, breakfast pizzas, yogurt, muffins or hard-boiled eggs, would be available in clear bags for students to grab and go.

Chuck Freundt, assistant superintendent for elementary education, said the district chose Mill Street and Scott as test sites because they are located on opposite geographic sides of the district and have a higher population of low-income students.

Freundt said these students are exactly the kids the district hopes to reach with broader breakfast access.

"We're interested in targeting that population in our district to make sure that students who might not regularly have a meal to start their day have access," Freundt said. "Having a meal in the morning certainly sustains their focus, their attention and their ability to learn a little bit longer."

School board members questioned the logistics of how students would pick up breakfast and what would happen this fall if the trial planned for February through May proves successful.

If the district wants to provide breakfast at more schools than Naperville Central and North in the fall, Superintendent Dan Bridges said board members could consider adding such an expenditure to the budget. But the district would not be reimbursed through a federal program because the additional meals would not be an official part of the food service contract.

To run the breakfast test would cost roughly $35,800, which covers increased labor costs and food prices for students who receive the meals free or at a discount.