By Sarah Opdahl

Following the approval of $12 million in state funding by the Connecticut General Assembly earlier this year, school districts are receiving free breakfast for the 2026-2027 academic year, and many students in New Fairfield Public Schools are definitely opting in. Superintendent Dr. Ken Craw is pleased with the uptick in breakfast consumption at the schools, saying, “Having a healthy breakfast to start the day helps ensure students are ready to learn.”

Compass Director Dining Services Ms. Billie Jo Watson is equally enthused about the high interest in breakfast at the schools, explaining, “we have seen increased participation as more students take advantage of this opportunity.” She went on to say, “Participation is strong across all of the schools; currently the elementary is seeing the highest participation.”

Closely monitoring participation, the staff provides a wide variety of breakfast options for the students, from French toast sticks and bagels to string cheese and fruit. Watson said, “All our breakfast options are designed to meet nutritional standards, with an emphasis on whole grains, low-fat choices, and balanced nutrition.” She added, “Students’ favorites vary by school. Hot items such as mini pancakes, egg sandwiches, and whole grain cinnamon rolls are popular. Our high school students are showing more interest in protein-rich choices like smoothies and yogurt.” In addition, there are a lot of grab-and-go options, such as whole-grain muffins and cereals, which Watson explained are popular, “we’ve found that students really enjoy having choices and being able to select the breakfast items they prefer.”

Breakfast is available at the start of school, and “at the elementary school and the middle school, students enjoy breakfast as they arrive off of the bus, while the high school remains open until 9:30 for students who might have study periods or have time in between classes,” Watson remarked. Her staff’s “goal is to make sure students have the opportunity to enjoy a nutritious breakfast while being mindful not to take away from valuable instruction time.”

 Minor staffing adjustments were made to accommodate for the higher breakfast participation, “primarily having a couple of staff members come in a little earlier, particularly in elementary school,” Watson said. She added, “Our staff really enjoys starting the day with students and seeing them enjoy their breakfast. Many of our team members have children in the district themselves, which adds to the strong sense of community and makes it especially rewarding to help students start their day with a nutritious meal.” Craw shared that he greatly appreciates “the efforts of our food services staff to provide the daily breakfast offering to all students.”

With significant funding behind the effort, the State will likely take an interest in breakfast traffic in all public schools. In New Fairfield, they would find that the free offerings are a well-received and welcome addition to the day.