Breakfast After the Bell, Digested.
This month, we’d like to recognize a Breakfast After the Bell shining star, La Conner School District. The district’s nutrition director, Kelly Kjarstad, has been the driving force behind the district’s 350% increase in breakfasts served from last school year to this one. She graciously took the time to share her story with UWKC so that others may learn from her experience and continue pushing the needle on childhood hunger.
La Conner School District’s Breakfast After the Bell (or BAB) journey began with a standard email from OSPI informing Kjarstad that, per the Washington Kids Ready to Learn Act, high-needs schools must implement Breakfast After the Bell. High-needs schools are defined as any school in which 70% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, or with a claiming percentage of 70% or more if operating under the Community Eligibility Provision.
The fact that her district was required by law to implement Breakfast After the Bell spurred Kjarstad’s initial research, but the more she learned, the more intrigued she became. She already knew that BAB integrates breakfast into the school day to massively increase participation and benefit vulnerable students. She was overwhelmed, though, by the volume of stories about the program’s profound impact on districts that had already implemented it.
Kjarstad was awed by not only the increased participation in breakfast, but also the data showing improved test scores, decreased tardies, decreased chronic absence, reduced behavioral referrals, calmer classroom environments, and strengthened community, among other benefits, that are associated with BAB.
“Everyone, top down, wants what’s best for the students. If they would’ve seen the statistics, they would’ve jumped on it right away.”
She came to the decision quickly: she would accept nothing less for the kids in La Conner School District. “I got it in my head, and I knew we had to do it,” she reflected. She eagerly started talking with her colleagues, one of which quickly became her first co-champion. “For this program, you have to have your whole district on board,” she added, but continued to qualify that for her, this began with just one ally.
Kjarstad identified two key factors in La Conner’s implementation success:
Educating district stakeholders and bringing them on as co-champions of the program, to ensure a collaborative and streamlined implementation process.
Utilizing outside support and resources, like United Way of King County, to leverage the success and programmatic knowledge that already exists in Washington. Technical help, opportunities for site visits, training tools, outreach materials, and equipment funding are all available to Washington schools starting this journey.
Alongside the Breakfast After the Bell Team at United Way of King County, Kjarstad built out a strong implementation plan before bringing together district stakeholders and program specialists from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to walk through, troubleshoot, and fine-tune the proposal. She emphasized the vital role of her incredible and hard working food service team in reaching the efficiency level they operate Breakfast After the Bell at today.
With the stakeholder group all on the same page, BAB was introduced to the district and staff received training and were given opportunities to ask questions and ensure they were prepared for service. Soon, breakfast began to be served after the bell in La Conner School District.
Kelly Kjarstad saw Breakfast After the Bell and knew that it was worth fighting for. And now that La Conner School District has accomplished a successful and efficiently run Breakfast After the Bell program, other districts may follow in her footsteps—proceeding with Kjarstad’s determination and using the available support when needed; all with the ultimate goal of feeding hungry children.
Working to implement Breakfast After the Bell in your district? Reach out to United Way of King County for support at any time!