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Unit 5 expanding 'grab and go' breakfast
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL — The Unit 5 school board voted Wednesday to expand a school breakfast program to the high schools and two more elementary schools.

The board also heard community forums will be scheduled to collect more public opinion on $100 million worth of proposed building projects. Site testing for building sites also was OK’d.

The breakfast program had been in seven schools, and Wednesday’s action will extend it this fall to Sugar Creek and Carlock elementary schools and Normal Community and Normal Community West high schools.

“Many students come to school hungry and in need of nourishment,” said John Pye, assistant superintendent of operations and human resources for the Normal-based school district. “It (the breakfast program) has been a true benefit to our students.”

Pat Powers, the district’s food services director, said school employees, especially the school nurses, have seen more children who don’t feel well because they are hungry.

No additional local money is needed to expand the breakfast program, Powers said. A one-time state grant of $3,500 at each building will pay for new food-service equipment and current funding programs cover the cost of food.

“Breakfasts will be simple grab-and-go kinds of things,” Powers said. Many items already are available ala carte at the high schools, she said.

The breakfast will be available to all students, and those who qualify for reduced-price lunches will qualify for subsidized breakfasts.

On the subject of building projects, board member John Puzauskas, who is on a committee studying the issue, said information-gathering workshops will be offered in coming months.

“We are trying to get our arms around it and understand what buildings we need to construct for the growing student enrollment,” he said.

Superintendent Gary Niehaus recommended that workshops include discussion of the concerns of current elementary schools as well as suggestions for future ones.

He said he wants to avoid dividing the district into “haves and have-nots.” Some buildings are 30 to 60 years old, and the concerns of their families also must also be considered, he said.

The board also approved soil borings and testing at three possible building sites and at an existing school considered for expansion.

The testing sites are in the Grove at Kickapoo Creek, Cedar Ridge and Northbridge subdivisions and at Sugar Creek Elementary School. The district is looking at building schools at the first two sites and whether to expand Sugar Creek or build a third school at Northridge.

Niehaus said it will be important for the board to decide, likely before Sept. 1, if it wants to expand Sugar Creek or build at Northbridge.

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Reader comments on this story - 13 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Adam wrote on Jul 15, 2007 12:00 PM:

" Ridiculous! Expand the program? Buy a box of cereal and milk. My kids get hungry too. Because they have to wait soooo long for lunch to come around. I'm tired of seeing the grab and go breakfast still being eaten ih hallways on the way to class and in the class room! What's worse? When everyone is to be standing for thr pledge. The breakfast kids were told not to, because it was to important thant they keep eating there granola bar. When will Unit 5 start serving dinner? "

Unit Five Math Doesn't Add Up wrote on Jul 14, 2007 11:20 PM:

" Unit Five expands another program which does not fall under EDUCATION - and states that it will not cost any money (no local money, that is). Wonder why their finances and public relations are in the current shambles that they are? "

P.E. everyday wrote on Jul 12, 2007 5:18 PM:

" It is an Illinois State law that P.E. is offered each day in all schools. Thus, both District 87 and Unit 5 have daily P.E. classes for their students. "

cold hot lunches wrote on Jul 12, 2007 4:23 PM:

" I said that maybe they should cut back a few dollars on playground equipment...not cut spending all together. Do not assume that I don't think phys ed is important. One great thing that unit 5 offers and dist 87 doesn't is daily PE. I am part of an active family and my son is in sports every season....the point being kids need fuel to be active. Give them hot lunches...not something bussed in that was cooked hours earlier. "

To: Had it with you too wrote on Jul 12, 2007 3:51 PM:

" Yes, I am being very sincere. The students I see coming to school without breakfast and, therefore, "hungry" has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the parents not being able to afford to buy breakfast food! Milk, bread and eggs are not luxuries in this country. I do consider buying cigarettes, cell phones for kids, owning pets, cable TV, high-speed Internet, X-Box 360's, renting DVDs, the use of tanning beds and dining out at fast-food restaurants all luxuries. It comes down to a matter of priorities . . . breakfast food for your children should come first. And, by the way . . . I do count my blessings each and every day! "

to Had It With You Too wrote on Jul 12, 2007 3:42 PM:

" But didn't you hear? We're living in the Republican era of prosperity! Everyone has a 6 figure job at State Farm and lives in a tremendous McMansion. The Double-wide fridge overflows with health foods. Its just that parents are too lazy in their oppulent luxury to take care of their children. "

Borrow and Spend Republicans wrote on Jul 12, 2007 3:40 PM:

" Its great to be able to invade Iraq with money on loan from China. "

Tax and Spend Democrats wrote on Jul 12, 2007 3:13 PM:

" Reminds me of this. The ever expanding grab and go tax. The unfed children programs were suppose to be cured by President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society program. "

Had It With You Too wrote on Jul 12, 2007 1:35 PM:

" Are you being SINCERE? This has LITTLE to do with outside expeditures, such as cigarettes, and EVERYTHING to due with minimal finances! Take a look around you! I see students in my classroom EVERYDAY that are 'going without.' And having MET their parent(s), I can guarantee you that they are going to great lengths to feed their children - they are simply UNABLE! Not EVERYONE has the 'luxury' of milk, eggs, bread and fresh produce on a daily basis. Count your blessings! "

To: cold hot lunches wrote on Jul 12, 2007 1:27 PM:

" Did you even read what you wrote? Cut back on playground equipment? Our children are lazy enough with technology and all, the last thing we need to do is stop providing them with a reason to get up off their butts and do something. You impose that we stop letting children have play grounds, and instead take that money and build kitchens in schools....... lol and we wounder why America has a HUGE weight problem..... "

wondering wrote on Jul 12, 2007 1:11 PM:

" What do they mean by 'grab and go'? Anything is better than nothing but a pop-tart certainly doesn't have nutritional value to last a childs metabolism for breakfast. I hope they are serving something hot and nutritional like some schools in dist 87 offers. "

Just about had it wrote on Jul 12, 2007 10:33 AM:

" It's a fact that kids arrive at school hungry. Why? It's because their parents don't get their lazy butts out of bed in the morning to make sure their children eat something before going to school. Well, why should they when the school provides them with a FREE breakfast every morning compliments of the taxpayers? It's not because their parent(s) can't afford food. A glass of milk, a banana, a few slices of toast and an egg are certainly cheaper than what most of these people spend on a pack or two of cigarettes each day! "

cold hot lunches wrote on Jul 12, 2007 10:01 AM:

" What about spending some $ putting kitchens into schools where there aren't any? I know that my child couldn't stand school lunches b/c the 'hot' lunches were always cold by the time they were served. I completely 100% agree that all kids should have breakfast available, but maybe we should review some priorities here. Maybe cut back a few dollars on playground equipment and in the newer schools and update the older ones with a kitchen so the kids get a warm meal when we are all paying for the same thing. "
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