The Mahomet-Seymour School District and ARAMARK will offer breakfast to students at Lincoln Trail and Middletown Early Childhood Center beginning Jan. 14.
Mahomet-Seymour High School has served breakfast to 25 to 30 kids per day for several years. In previous years, Lincoln Trail provided breakfast for 20 to 30 students through a program called Breakfast Club, but the program ended this school year as they were no longer able to purchase food from the food bank.
“We do have several kids that for many reasons don’t eat breakfast prior to arriving at school,” Lincoln Trail Principal Jeff Starwalt said. “We are not sure what to expect, but hope we are able to get to the kids that aren’t able to have breakfast before arriving at school. The nice thing is that the program is available to all students.”
The Mahomet-Seymour School District wants to provide all children with the academic and physical advantage breakfast supplies. Studies have shown breakfast can help children pay attention in class, perform problem-solving tasks and that it can improve memory.
Lincoln Trail will phase in the program by offering free breakfast to third grade students on Jan. 9, fourth grade students Jan. 10 and fifth grade students on Jan. 13. Breakfast will be served from 7:50 to 8:20 a.m.
Beginning Jan. 14, breakfast will cost $1.50 for students who pay for lunch, $.30 for students who qualify for reduced lunch and breakfast will be free for students in the free lunch program. Milk and extra milk will be $.40. Students can use their existing lunch account to pay for breakfast.
If the program is successful, Sangamon and Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School may see breakfast service next year.
