March 19—A potential new approach to how Toledo Public Schools serves students breakfast could save the district money, boost academics, and feed hundreds of hungry children.
Most TPS students already are eligible for free and reduced lunch and breakfasts, but not every student takes advantage of the subsidized meal. Some district officials and Toledo Board of Education members want to move breakfast from the cafeteria to the classroom. Beyond the altruistic benefits, if every student eligible for subsidized breakfasts ate the meals, the district could save more than $1 million.
“We would cut out our supplementing our food program,” by moving to classroom breakfasts, board member Larry Sykes said.
The district spends about $1.5 million a year subsidizing its food program, TPS Business Manager James Gant said. Because the federal government reimburses schools based on how many students eat meals, the more students who eat, the more money the school receives.