Pettisville starts school breakfast plan

10/18/2006

PETTISVILLE - Pettisville Local School District started its first school breakfast program for grades one to six last week and served 16 to 18 meals a day in its first few days.

Prices, which were unanimously approved by the school board, are $1.50 for adults, $1.25 for students, and 30 cents for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches. Those who qualify for free lunches can also eat breakfast for free.

Superintendent Stephen Switzer said breakfasts might be offered to students in all grades, and he predicted that the number of students eating the school breakfast will grow. Even if it doesn't, he said he thought the program could be self-sustaining.

The school offers a hot breakfast two days a week and cold cereal and other items the other three days.

Breakfast is served from about 7:50 a.m. until 8:10, when the last school buses usually arrive.

Classes start at 8:20.

Pettisville school leaders have been talking about serving breakfast for a couple of years, Mr. Switzer said.

In the past, however, the only breakfasts served daily at the school have been those for basketball players - typically in junior high or freshmen - who sometimes have morning practices beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. from about November to February.