School districts are turning to an unconventional remedy for their financial ills and academic pains -- whole-grain muffins and cartons of milk.

Child-welfare officials have been increasing their push in recent years to add school-breakfast programs, which they say improve students' behavior, performance and attendance.

But there's a financial equation as well, and some Ohio school districts are finding that free breakfast-for-all programs can help balance their food-service budgets, too.

The Columbus Public Schools, which are reeling from a multimillion-dollar deficit in their food-service fund, are launching an information campaign this fall to increase student participation in the breakfast program.

Last school year, 40 percent of the students participated. The district hopes to expand that to 75 percent, which would make the program self-supporting.

Participation in Reynoldsburg, which offers universal free breakfasts in its elementary, middle and junior-high schools, has increased 11-fold, to 3,300 breakfasts a day, since its program started three years ago.

Because the U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses schools for providing meals, the breakfast program has earned a small profit for the district, said business manager Ron Strussion.

Westerville offers breakfast, but it's not free for all students. Still, it makes a small profit.

"If you serve more (students) without increasing labor, that helps bring in more dollars ... and you'll be able to help your bottom line," said Charlie Kozlesky, senior vice president of school and summer nutrition at the Children's Hunger Alliance.

But districts must consider their student-poverty rates to determine whether a universal free-breakfast program makes financial sense, he said. Columbus schools spend 97 cents on average to produce and serve a breakfast.

The USDA reimburses Columbus $1.56 for students eligible for free breakfast, $1.26 for ones eligible for reduced-price meals and 24 cents for ones who are supposed to pay full price.

About 74 percent of Columbus students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches based on their family incomes.

If the district can expand participation, the finances of the breakfast program will complement its real purpose: "to support our students' needs and provide the nourishment they need," said Columbus spokesman Mike Fulwider.

"That's the goal really," he said.

In Westerville, where about 20 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, the district started providing breakfast to students in its four-week-long summer-school program last year. The meals' costs are included in the tuition -- from $15 to $70, based on family need.

"My attendance rate, now that we are offering lunch and breakfast, is up to 96.8 percent, which is unreal for a summer intervention," said Hawthorne Elementary Principal Machelle Kline, noting that the attendance rate was 88 percent two years ago. "Students are not hungry when they come in (to class), and they are more focused on academics."

A growing number of schools are providing breakfast, said Cecelia Torok, associate director for the Office of Safety, Health and Nutrition at the state Department of Education. About 63 percent of the state's 4,000 school sites that provide lunch also serve breakfast.

Next school year, Bexley is expected to offer breakfast, but it will not be free for all.

About 6 percent of Bexley students are eligible for free lunches, and Barry Zwick, Bexley's director of operations, thinks few students will participate in the breakfast program.

"I think a lot of kids eat at home," Zwick said. "We're hoping to break even."

ssebastian@dispatch.com

"Students are not hungry when they come in and they are more focused on academics."

Machelle Kline
Hawthorne principal