Pilot Breakfast Program Coming to Tolland Middle School

Starting in mid-May, a breakfast program will be offered at Tolland Middle School.

The plan will provide a nutritious breakfast, following all of the guidelines of the School Breakfast Programs, and will be available in the cafeteria between 7:30 a.m. and 7:58 a.m. 

Food service staff will have “grab and go” style options available and each student will be able to go through the line and check out quickly using the district’s point of sale system.

Breakfast will cost $1.50 for all paid students and will be free for all students eligible for free or reduced price meals. The cost of the program will be self-sustaining.

The program is a pilot program and it will run until the end of the school year. Hot and cold options will be offered.

Superintendent of Schools William Guzman said that research has repeatedly shown that eating breakfast improves school performance, reduces behavioral problems, improves children’s diets, and can help reduce obesity. 

He said that in Tolland, many students, especially at the secondary level, are visiting the nurse’s office in the morning complaining of headaches and stomach aches. Most frequently, these visits are due to the fact that the student has not eaten breakfast. 

He added that over the past couple of years, Abby Kassman-Harned, Director of Food Services, has received e-mails from the nursing staff supporting the idea of breakfast in the school district.

According to Guzman, there has recently been strong encouragement from the Connecticut Department of Education and from Gov. Dannel Malloy to implement and/or expand SBP. In January, a letter was sent to all Superintendents of Schools from Stefan Pryor, Commissioner of Education in support of the SBP.

It has been estimated that Connecticut does not take advantage of approximately $22 million in federal reimbursement money by not serving breakfast to students. Tolland’s portion of this amount is approximately $74,000. These figures are based on 2010 meal participation.

Chris Grulke, Nursing Coordinator for Tolland Schools, and Kassman-Harned have been working with TMS Principal Walter Willett to introduce the program for the middle school students.