BREAKFAST PROGRAM INITIATED; PILOT EFFORT OPENS AT LOCAL SCHOOL

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Students at May Greene Elementary School this morning will feast on sausage biscuits, orange juice and milk during the second day of a pilot breakfast program.

Administrators said the program began smoothly Monday, the first day breakfast was served.

Students at the school will be offered breakfast each morning through the end of the year. If it goes well, the district will consider expanding the breakfast program to other elementary schools.

Lisa Elfrink, director of food services, said 77 students ate breakfast Monday.

"I was real pleased," Elfrink said. "We started serving at 7:40 a.m. and were done by 8. It ran right on schedule.

"I think our numbers were a little low today," she said. "Probably as the week goes on the numbers will increase some."

Elfrink predicted that on days when sweet items are served more children will eat breakfast.

She said most children were receptive to the meal of toast, apple juice and milk.

"We did make them take their milk this morning," she said. "Some didn't want to drink their milk, but we asked them to at least try it.

"It was a nice, smooth start," said May Greene principal Sam Jarrell. "There were some children who didn't remember.

"The children were also a little tentative," he said. "This is something new. I think everyone who wanted breakfast got it, and they got a nice chance to learn the ropes."

Last month Jarrell sent surveys home to parents asking how many would be interested in the breakfast program. "We got back over 100 responses from parents saying they would be interested," he said.

"I think once the children learn more about it the numbers will go up. But 77 was a good number to start with. It was not frantic. If we have twice that many, it might be a little frantic.

"I'm not so sure some children didn't eat twice: at home and again here," he said. "But that's ok. They won't get hungry before lunch."

Breakfast, Jarrell said, is important to help children get the day off to a good start.

Richard Bollwerk, director of elementary education, said the breakfast program falls under the federal school-lunch program. The district receives federal money to subsidize it, Bollwerk said.

The recommended price for the breakfast is 75 cents. Like the lunch program, some students would qualify for a reduced price of 30 cents and others would qualify for a free breakfast.

"This pilot program will give an opportunity to see how the costs fare and how the program works," Bollwerk said. "We'll make a report back to the board and make recommendations about continuing the program or possibly expanding it," he said.