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Brooklyn Board approves three‑year EASTCONN food services contract; free school meals continue
Summary
The Brooklyn Board of Education voted 5–1 to approve a three‑year contract with nonprofit EASTCONN that maintains the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) providing free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students; the board discussed menu choices, scratch cooking and program funding.
The Brooklyn Board of Education voted Jan. 28 to approve a three‑year food services contract with EASTCONN that will run July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, preserving district participation in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP).
Superintendent Rebecca Raynor introduced EASTCONN Food Services Director Courtney Haynes, who described the nonprofit operator’s role. Haynes said the arrangement "allows free breakfast and lunch for all enrolled students," and that EASTCONN assumes responsibilities for staffing, training, compliance with USDA and Connecticut State Department of Education nutrition standards, fiscal management and reporting.
Board members asked about menu choices and nutrition. Ailla Wasstrom‑Evans praised Haynes’s work securing CEP status for Brooklyn and asked about increasing protein and reducing sugar in breakfast options; Haynes said items such as an egg sandwich are offered weekly and that participation and program guidelines influence menu choices. Haynes also described efforts to expand scratch cooking, reduce reliance on ultra‑processed items, and pursue farm‑to‑school partnerships through UConn and grant applications to support a production kitchen.
Haynes explained that the CEP covers the cost of food and that the contract fee to the district is meant to cover managerial and administrative expenses, which have risen since the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Dr. Melissa Perkins‑Banas moved to approve the EASTCONN contract (Perkins‑Banas/Burgess). The motion passed with five votes in favor and one abstention; the board recorded Mrs. Lyons, Dr. Perkins‑Banas, Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. Wasstrom‑Evans and Mrs. Metzger as yes and Mr. Justin Phaiah as abstaining.
The contract renewal keeps the district in a federal‑and‑state‑compliant meal program that the board and administrators described as important for access and for operational continuity. The board did not set additional conditions to the contract during the meeting.
Next steps: the signed contract will be implemented July 1, 2026, and administrators said they will continue to pursue grants and menu adjustments to expand scratch cooking and alternative offerings.
