District 303 students to run cafe in St. Charles Library
A small cafe created in the mezzanine of the St. Charles Public Library will offer a morning pick-me-up that patrons have been requesting for years.
But for those serving the coffees, teas and packaged pastries, community leaders say, The Daily Bean aims to provide something more valuable: Authentic, hands-on work experience.
The coffee shop will be operated by a handful of students in a St. Charles Unit District 303 transitional special education program, which helps 18- to 22-year-olds with disabilities acquire on-the-job training and life skills, said Aubree Schuett, the district's associate director of instructional interventions.
The Daily Bean is open from 9 a.m. to noon every day that school is in session, she said. Two student employees will be behind the counter at any given time serving and exchanging money with customers, and a job coach will be on hand to offer support.
"It's really easy to engage and follow a process with people you're familiar with, but when it's with unfamiliar (patrons), it helps to generalize those skills across settings," Schuett said. "With having this experience, it's going to give our students the best training possible so they can go out into the world after they graduate with us and get competitive employment, which is the ultimate goal."
The concept developed out of conversations last year with district program instructors, who were seeking off-site learning opportunities for students, library Executive Director Edith Craig said. At the time, the library had been exploring the possibility of selling coffee and snacks, she said, but was unsure how best to move forward.
"All the stars aligned," Craig said. "It was definitely a need here at the library with our patrons really wanting that service. And for the students ... I think this is just the perfect environment for them to learn these skills they need on a day-to-day basis.
Bringing The Daily Bean to life was a community effort, Schuett said. The district has partnered with Batavia-based PapaNicholas Coffee, which is owned by a District 303 parent, both in selling the product and learning how to get the coffee shop off the ground, she said. A local graphic designer, the husband of an elementary school principal, also made the cafe's logo and signage.
The District 303 school board approved an agreement with the library at its Jan. 14 meeting. The district will collect all profits from The Daily Bean.
A grand opening scheduled for this past Monday was pushed to next week because of inclement weather, Schuett said. A soft opening the past several days has given students an opportunity to practice preparing drinks and interacting with patrons before they start exchanging money.
Library officials and patrons already have expressed excitement over the coffee shop, Schuett said. Officials eventually intend to explore opportunities to expand the program's hours.
"Ideas are a dime a dozen, but following through makes it special," Craig said. "Everything worked out perfectly."