Swan Hills School says it hopes to continue working with Perks of Home to provide meals to students next school year after school officials say scheduling, not the food itself—led to concerns over the community-supported breakfast program.
Superintendent Brett Cooper from Pembina Hills School Division says the school appreciated the restaurant’s support but found that plated breakfasts arriving after classes had started disrupted learning.
The school now hopes to work with owner Krista Emery before the new school year to find an arrangement that works for both students and staff.
Community member John Desjardins began asking questions after hearing concerns that the volunteer-supported breakfast program had been winding down. Following a meeting with school officials on June 26, he says he now believes the issue stemmed largely from differing expectations about how the program would operate.
According to Desjardins, community members supported the initiative by sponsoring breakfasts, often donating about $5 per meal. He says that the program received strong support from residents who wanted to help local children.
“It would be terrible if kids weren’t getting proper meals,” he says. “We wanted to make a difference.”
Seeking answers, Desjardins began contacting school division officials on June 8. He first reached out to trustee Cindy Carswell, who directed him to follow the division’s administrative process and contact the school principal.
On June 10, Desjardins emailed the Swan Hills School principal outlining his concerns and requesting a response. Desjardins says he did not receive a reply by his requested deadline.
The matter was later referred to Raime Drake, deputy superintendent of education services.
According to Desjardins, Drake provided the division’s explanation regarding meal funding and program operations.
At the time, Desjardins says he still had questions about the school’s nutrition programs, including what food was offered and how students accessed it.
“My main priority right now is getting answers,” Desjardins says, before meeting with school officials. “Most of my information is second-hand. I want to hear the facts directly from the school and the school division.”
Desjardins finally met with Cooper and the Swan Hills School principal on June 26 to discuss his concerns.
Cooper says, classes at Swan Hills School begin at 8:25 a.m. and some meals were delivered around 9 a.m.
“We just can’t have students leaving their class to go get food,” Cooper says. “It was trying to figure out a way to make it (the food) accessible that didn’t take away from the learning.”
Following the meeting, Desjardins says he had a better understanding of what had happened.
Desjardins says he left the meeting with the understanding that his view of the program’s purpose differed from how the school had been administering it.
“It seems like a straightforward issue of two sides not knowing what the other was doing,” he says.
He says the meeting provided answers to many of his questions.
“But I can’t say I’m thrilled about the whole situation, but I could see where things apparently just went in a different direction.”
Cooper says the school’s concern was not with the food provided through Perks of Home, but with the timing of meal deliveries and students leaving class to access the food.
He says that students receive granola bars, cereal bars, fruit cups, bananas, apples and other snacks, he says.
Cooper also explains that every classroom has meals available for students, while bread, peanut butter and jam are also available to make quick snacks.
“The bottom line is that we’re never going to let a student go hungry,” Cooper says.
He says the school appreciates the community’s support and the meals provided through Perks of Home, owned by Krista Emery, which included pancakes, waffles and eggs.
“But we’re trying to figure out a balance between the things that she’s able to provide, us being able to educate kids and keeping focused on learning, and still make sure that they get fed,” Cooper says.
“I would like to see the school and Perks of Home figure out some sort of arrangement that works for kids and works for Emery.”
Julia Magsombol
Lakeside Leader