Over 100,000 free breakfasts were served to students in the district this past school year, illustrating the success of the first year of the program, Superintendent Stu Moeckel said Thursday.
Moeckel presented updated totals to the School Board at Thursday’s meeting of how many students used the program during its first full school year.
The district served over 8,000 breakfasts each month, with totals peaking at 13,116 in April.
“It’s been a testament to the fact that our food service staff was able to do this at all because we saw a much larger increase in our take rate than we ever had in the past. That’s a good thing to have,” he said.
The program was successful because the district was able to emphasize to families its importance, so that will have to continue again next school year to keep it sustainable, Moeckel said.
“We want to make sure that our families know that it’s through their participation that we’re able to do this and continue that,” Moeckel said.
The average reimbursement per meal is $1.27, and the district spent about $1.25 per meal or about $125,517. The district finished the year with a net surplus of $1,919.
Board member Claire Harding said serving over 8,000 breakfasts a month signifies a lot of kids going into the classroom being prepared to learn.
“I think it’s great. Credit to the staff and you and the rest of the board for saying, ‘Let’s try this, because it’s important,’” Harding said. “I am overjoyed that it was a success.”
Board member Heather Whalen asked Moeckel how building staff feel about the program continuing and if they have been able to make adjustments that make the program doable.
Moeckel said he thinks each building has refined the processes. He said he thinks they feel prepared and said building teams can see the benefit of having students take advantage of the program.
Action to approve the program for another school year will be at a future meeting.
In other business, the board approved raises for the coming year. Returning classified staff will see a 25-cent annual increase for additional years of service, in addition to a 3% raise effective July 1. The board also approved a 3% increase to returning administrators and director staff salaries.
The board also approved the 2025-26 negotiated agreement with the following salary schedule for licensed staff:
The base salary is $45,840 for the coming school year. In last year’s approved agreement, the base salary was $44,540 for the 2024-25 school year.
The full agreement with the salary schedule and supplemental schedules is available here.
The School Board also approved the student fee schedule for next school year. The amended fees were presented at the meeting last month and include decreases to many of the class fees, including those for the culinary classes, health sciences, woodworking, welding and other CTE classes.
The following shows the graphic presented at the previous meeting with updated prices:
Moeckel said class fees will reflect only the costs necessary to materials used by each student in the class.
Instruction, technology and activity fees did not change.
As conversations about reinvestment housing incentive districts in town have been ongoing with the city and the developer, Moeckel gave an update to the board on the next steps.
Moeckel said since the developer has been working with the city to reconfigure aspects of the plan, there will have to be further city action later this summer. That means the school district’s 30-day window to respond if they feel the housing district creates adverse effects would then open up after the commission passes that item.
Moeckel said the current market almost demands cities use an incentive like these districts for developers to be able to afford construction, and he doesn’t see any changes from the original discussions the board has had.
Also during his report, Moeckel shared the building needs assessment required by the state. The assessment shows that Eudora has a 1:19 teacher to student ratio at the elementary school, which is much lower than a majority of schools, he said.
The assessment also notes 32% of students are receiving free or reduced lunches.
The board also approved handbooks for the early learning center, elementary, middle, high and virtual schools, as well as one for activities.
The new handbook for the high school includes the new cellphone policy previously discussed by the board. The middle school has a similar policy, as well.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
