Universal Free Breakfast

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Universal Free Breakfast

• West Elementary - Jefferson

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Background

• West Elementary has a student enrollment of 292
  students grades K-5 in 15 classrooms.
• 85 of the students participate in the school
  lunch program.
• More than 41 of the lunch participants qualify
  for free/reduced price meals.
• Qualifies for severe need reimbursement

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Why Universal Free?

• Current breakfast program was losing money each
  year.
• Universal free breakfast combined with classroom
  service would reach most students
• Reimbursement funds received for feeding 95 of
  the students would result in a break-even
  situation.

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How to Get Started

• Gather information from several sources
• DPI
• SNA
• UW Extension
• Other schools
• Read case studies
• Determine service model (classroom, cafeteria,
  kiosk, hot/cold breakfast, etc.)

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West Breakfast Service
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Determine Financial Feasibility

• Food Cost (Jefferson - .61 average)
• Labor Cost (Jefferson - 4 hrs/day)
• Equipment (large and small)
• Breakeven point

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Share Idea

• With administrators first (business manager,
  principal, or superintendent)
• With nurses, teachers and parents
• Dont have a finalized plan
• Ask for input
• Judge enthusiasm and pick the best partners

8
Form Committee

• FS Director, Principal, Food Service Staff
  Member, Volunteer Teachers
• Discuss everything (menu items, delivery
  procedures, garbage handling, etc.)
• Determine and finalize plan (Jefferson -
  universal free cold breakfast served in classroom
  at start of school day starting with a pilot of 6
  classrooms)

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Pilot breakfast program

• Teachers volunteered to participate in pilot
  program
• Pilot was 6 weeks long
• Parents were informed of program
• Parents and students were surveyed

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West Breakfast Service
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Important concepts

• Flexibility
• Develop a plan to communicate with teachers and
  parents (voicemail, email, memo)
• Stay positive when addressing negativity
• Dont forget to follow all NSB regulations (menu
  pattern, nutritional analysis, offer vs serve,
  accountability, etc.)

12
Maintaining and Monitoring Program

• Computer system? Tally sheets?
• Production records
• Budget - review monthly
• Surveys - parents, students, teachers

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Answers to negative comments

• Takes too much time away from education
• Spillage and mess in the classroom
• Unsanitary eating environment
• Parents responsibility
• Breakfast should not be free