The Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program remains a beneficial method to increase attendance and academic performance, build school community, decrease tardiness and lower the number of visits to the nurse before lunch, but it is not without its challenges. For six weeks now I have been learning the ropes of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) in Colorado. I have been speaking with nutrition directors across the state and learning of the various successes and challenges that occur in the SBP.
Two weeks ago I visited two Aurora Public Schools that instituted BIC last spring. Both Boston P-8 and Elkhart Elementary have continued to find solutions to minor challenges in the program such as trash collection and clogged drains. The building engineers at Boston P-8 are working on more efficient and less wasteful (too many bags) means of trash collection following breakfast. At Elkhart, the teachers were each given strainers for cereal days to keep the drains clear. Oranges have been taken off the Elkhart menu as the teachers agreed that they were too messy and took too long for students to eat.
Throughout implementation of BIC, the school leadership has addressed the unique challenges, but with no thought of ending the program; there are more benefits to the program than there are challenges. I salute the Aurora Public Schools for continuing to grow the BIC program while addressing changes as needed to make the program work at each individual school.