Schools

Seven District 308 Schools to Share $13K Grant

The award will be distributed to seven of District 308's schools to use for breakfast carts, commercial blenders and more.

Scott Viau, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

OSWEGO, IL — Community Unit School District 308 is one of nine Illinois school districts chosen to receive funds from USDA and the Midwest Dairy Council for innovative school meal programs and new school menu offerings, such as yogurt-based smoothies.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, at the District Administrative Center, Illinois dairy farmer Ethan Heinzmann presented a check for $13,000 to District 308 Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Sparlin, according to a news release from the district.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen as a recipient of the school nutrition equipment grants,” Sparlin said in the release. “Having access to a healthy and nutritious breakfast sets the tone for the day and ensures our students have the energy and focus they need to do their best in the classroom.”

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Fuel Up to Play 60 School Nutrition Presentation to School District 308 & the Illinois State Board of Education. (Standing L-R: Mark Jelencic, Gen.Mgr-Aramark; Dr. John W. Sparlin, Superintendent of Schools; Mark Haller, SNS Nutrition & Wellness Programs-ISBE; Sandra Brown, Midwest Dairy Council; Aniki Coates, Breat VISTA No Kid Hungry; Ethan Heinzmann, Dairy Farmer-Golden Oaks Farm; Ali Mehanti, Asst. Superintendent for Bus. & Oper. Seated L-R: Wendy Castillo, Asst. Food Service Dir., Aramark; Marla Behrends, IL Industry Rel. Mgr.-Midwest Dairy; Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, Assistant Superintendent Specialized Instruction-ISBE; Kate Kloet, RDN, Asst. Food Service Dir.-Aramark.

The $13,000 award will be distributed to seven of District 308’s schools to use for breakfast carts, commercial blenders, and reimbursable breakfast smoothie programs.

Heinzmann also presented a check for more than $93,000 to Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) assistant superintendent of specialized instruction, nutrition and wellness, and Mark Haller, ISBE administrator of nutrition and wellness programs, to distribute to the other qualifying school districts. Representatives from the Midwest Dairy Council and Aramark were also at the event.

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The grants recognize efforts by the state and the district to ensure all students have access to more nutritious foods. The funds are being awarded to the following Illinois school districts as part of USDA’s 2016 Fuel Up to Play 60 School Nutrition Grant Program.

  • Community Unit School District 308
  • Chicago Public Schools District 299
  • Community Unit School District 303
  • East Aurora School District 131
  • Elgin School District U46
  • J. Sterling Morton High School District 201
  • Oak Park and River Forest School District 200
  • Peoria School District 150
  • Ridgeview Schools, Community Unit School District 19

photo via Oswego School District 308

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