All students in the district will have the opportunity for a free breakfast during the next school year after the School Board approved it at Thursday night’s meeting.

The idea for the project was first presented to the board at its June meeting as food insecurity continues to be an issue in the district and county. 

The program won’t be state funded as Eudora does not meet those requirements, but the school would still receive reimbursements. The goal is to get enough students to use the program so that the district is not losing money on it.

Superintendent Stu Moeckel provided more detailed financials for how to make the program work for the district. About 21% of students get breakfasts at school. To make the program more cost efficient, the district needs to up that number to 50% or higher and lower the food cost to about $1.25 a meal instead of its current $1.88.

If about 50% of students across the district took advantage of the free breakfast and the meal cost was cut to $1.25, it would cost the district about $19,000.

Moeckel said it’s worth a trial run to determine if the school district can get enough students involved to lower the food costs to the district, which would then help offset the overall cost of the program.

The district is hoping more students who already qualify for the free/reduced lunch program but aren’t yet participating in the breakfast program will take part to also increase federal reimbursements.

Moeckel said cutting the cost would not change the quality of the meals, and would rather give students two options for breakfast rather than the current three. The breakfasts would still meet current standards.

With good marketing of the free breakfast, he thinks it’s possible to get that 50% significantly higher, he said, meaning the cost to the district could keep going down.

Board Vice President Eric Votaw said since the food service fund always has a surplus, any loss in the first year could be recouped by that fund.

Moeckel said he would also provide updates every nine weeks so the board can see how many are taking breakfast and how costs are shaping up.

“If these kids could get this breakfast at home already, they would, and it is really hard to meet those academic needs on an empty stomach, so this is something we can do for those kiddos to get their day started right,” Moeckel said.

At the last meeting, Moeckel noted about 35% of students are receiving free or reduced lunches in the district now. This program can help eliminate the stigma associated with receiving free meals and allow all students to receive them with no questions asked.

Board member Claire Harding agreed it was worth a try.

“There were a lot of reasons to do this, including what it means to our school community and our larger community, how it impacts teachers when students are fed to start your day and how it impacts families when they are reassured that their students are fed to start their day,” Harding said.

In other business, after previous conversations about baseball and softball batting cage needs, fixing the fields took priority at the time. With that work complete, the board approved plans for the new cages.

The cost will be about $20,000 to the district with another $5,000 coming from both the softball and baseball coaches’ fundraising budget.

“We think it’s a really good investment into these programs, and it shows both those teams, those families in our community that that is still very much a priority for us,” Moeckel said.

The old batting cages have already been torn out, so the renovations will begin shortly, Moeckel said. They hope to have them in by the end of August, he said.

The board also approved new risers for the performing arts center at the high school. The cost will be about $20,800 coming out of the capital outlay fund. The goal is to have them ready for the district’s first choir concert.

The board received an update on the Eudora Reads summer program.

Rose Garrison and Wendy White presented on behalf of the reading group that hopes to create a zero tension environment for encouraging reading as a lifelong habit. This summer, over 2,600 books moved through the hands of students. There were 95 elementary schoolers, 43 middle schoolers and 16 high schoolers.

Students received book bundles, took field trips and had literary circles, a book tasting and trivia night.

The group was originally funded by the Eudora Schools Foundation, but as its grant ran out the district has taken the group on, Moeckel said.

Moeckel also updated the board on bond construction updates. For more information on those, read this story from earlier this week. 

The board also approved various coaching changes, including:

• Kyle Deterding, high school assistant girl’s basketball coach

• Jennifer Pate, middle school cheer coach 

• Holdren Andrews, middle school assistant wrestling coach 

• Evan Cleveland, middle school assistant boys basketball coach

• Mallorie Cleveland, middle school volleyball coach

• Lisa Daniels, middle school assistant cheer coach

• Jason Tharp, middle school assistant track coach 

Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]. 

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