March 19, 2024

Coffee customers need not leave Berg campus

Special education program allows students to run a shop that serves staff

It’s not unusual for a teacher to grab coffee in the morning, and a new arrangement at Berg Middle School this fall will allow that to happen on campus.

Berg special education teachers Judy Rodewald and Jenny Springer are helping coordinate the Cardinal Café — a small arrangement in the kitchenette area of Springer’s classroom. Special education students will help prepare coffee and other tasks common to a coffee shop. Teachers and other district staff will be their customers.

“The staff interest in this and the support we’ve received from the community so far have been very positive,” Springer said. “Our goals for students include enablement and empowerment and this moves toward both.”

Rodewald said there have been tons of ideas brought forth, but things will likely start out simple. It will only be coffee, tea and hot chocolate, but the program could expand as things move along.

Springer said it would be helpful to create a sort of treat day, such as homemade brownies or something of that nature on a Thursdays or Fridays. An important first step will be to establish routines and separate job tasks, with students working in teams of five.

There will be about 16 total students in the project. Staff will be able to purchase coffee from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

“Each student would spend about 30 minutes per day on the project,” Springer said.

The Newton Community School District Board of Education approved the project for the 2016-17 school year at its Aug. 8 meeting as a “enterprise” and a learning tool. District administrators will manage the accounting side of the shop.

The income from the shop will be used to keep up its supplies, though donations from the community are certainly welcome, as any proceeds would go into a departmental fund for community experiences and Special Olympics efforts.

Springer said Brock Patterson, owner of Bridgehouse Coffee, contacted her about the project. He told her he’s willing to donate fresh ground coffee to the program and will come speak to the students about running a coffee business.

She said the district staff is the customer base is certainly not limited to Berg staff. She said there might be a punch-card system developed where staff won’t need to bring cash or exact change each day.

All 16 students are integrated into regular classrooms as part of their daily routines. Springer said she’s gained enthusiasm as the preparations have moved forward.

The support she’s received from the community, which supports special education students in a myriad of ways that include “The Big Game” near the end of each basketball season, make it easier to put together projects like the Cardinal Café.

While there be plenty of on-the-job training challenges along the way, momentum seems to be on the café’s side as the school year begins.

“I’ve been working on rotations, job charts and production charts,” Springer said. “I’m pretty excited about all this.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532
or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com