By Heather Tressler

Record Staff Writer

 The Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center recently released the Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, which is a comprehensive review and rating of school districts in Pennsylvania based on their participation in the federal school breakfast program. The report covers the 2007-08 school year.
According to the report card, Johnsonburg school district is on the report’s “Failing the Children” list for the 2007-08 school year. According the to report, Johnsonburg’s rating is the worst in the entire state.
Walter Fitch, superintendent for Johnsonburg Area School District, was quick to explain what the district does as far as serving breakfast.
According to Fitch, there is no formal breakfast program, but they do offer what they call a ‘grab n’ go bag’. Fitch said the bag might include a sandwich and toast.
“There is nothing formal,” commented Fitch. “But there is food available.”
Lisa Mahoney, cafeteria manager, said that if there is a recognizable need for students, then they do feed the children.
“If kids come in and say they’re hungry, then we do provide them with food,” Mahoney said. “We are providing our kids; it’s just not a reimbursable program.”
Fitch says this type of program is not recognized by the federal program so that is why they remain on the “Failing the Children” list which has been consistent for several years.
Fitch said the reason the district has not yet adapted a formal program is because of cost.
“Some school cafeterias aren’t unionized,” explained Fitch. “We have to be conscious. We would lose money if we operated a full program. However, our cooks at the end of the day put bags together so they are available for the next morning.”
Despite the lack of funds, Fitch does say the district is in favor of a full breakfast program.
“The board is in favor. The administration is in favor,” said Fitch.
According to Dr. Tom Butler, superintendent of Ridgway Area School District, the Ridgway area also has a breakfast program, which he described as ‘superb.’
The program began around 1993, when the Centennial school was still open. Since then the district has continued the serving breakfast trend. According to Rena Urmann, Food Service Director for Ridgway schools, students at both the high school and elementary school enjoy breakfast within the cafeteria corridor. Urmann said since the middle school is beneath the high school, they don’t want the students to come upstairs so they utilize the convenience of a breakfast cart to serve students. Future plans for the district is to create a ‘grab ‘n go’ breakfast to better serve students who are time constricted.
The breakfast menu at Ridgway consists of hot items like a breakfast sandwich or a breakfast burrito and/or grains such as cereal or a granola bar. Each student receives both milk and juice, and there is also fresh fruit available daily.
Butler said without hesitation the breakfast program is important to help the students excel in the classroom.
“It is indisputable that kids who eat breakfast perform better in school,” Butler said. “Without a doubt it helps them perform better.”
Urmann added that students who are properly fed in the morning tend to visit the nurse less and attendance percentages are better.
Ridgway is able to continue to keep their breakfast program running through federal funds and serve, on average, 150 breakfasts a day.
The St. Marys School District is similar to Ridgway in its breakfast program, which has been a long-standing program.
According to Murray Neeper, superintendent at St. Marys Area School District, the school has had a breakfast program for as long as he can remember.
“It has been running over 10 years, at least,” said Neeper. “We’ve served 24,000 breakfasts this year to date.”
Neeper said the breakfast menu may contain foods like cereal, waffles, breakfast pizza, orange juice and pancakes. Neeper said a monthly breakfast menu is comprised similar to the lunch menu.
On the contrary, Neeper explained that 24,000 breakfasts may not be as much as it seems.
“It sounds like a large number,” Neeper said. “But, at the high school, about three  percent of kids get breakfast; at the middle school, about two percent, and at the elementary school there is about 12 to 18 percent.”
When asked about the percentages of students that do not utilize the breakfast program, Murray stated it could be attributed to children already eating breakfast before they come to school.
“I think it is based upon the household routine,” said Neeper. “I do wish more students would take advantage of our program.”
Neeper said the funding for their breakfast program is made possible because of state funding. Neeper said they charge fees to students, which are less then a dollar, and added that rates are adjusted for low-income students.