Vending Technology Expands Access to School Breakfast at DuBois Area High School

DuBois Area High School has expanded access to student breakfast through the introduction of an innovative refrigerated vending machine which helps ensure that students start the day with a nutritious meal.

The grab-and-go breakfast solution was implemented after scheduling changes eliminated a previously offered "second chance" period, creating a need for a more flexible option. By leveraging new vending technology developed by Vend Novation, Metz and the district have enabled students to access breakfast outside regular cafeteria hours.

Located in a high-traffic hallway, the machine holds up to 95 complete breakfasts. Meals are provided free of charge to students under the district's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. Each breakfast is prepared and packaged onsite by Metz staff and includes a variety of cold, grab-and-go items such as yogurt, fruit, breakfast bars, pancakes, and other student favorites.

"The goal was simple: to make sure more students have access to breakfast, no matter when they arrive," said Tom Koscienski, General Manager of Foodservice for Metz Culinary Management at DuBois Area School District. "This approach enables more students to participate."

Since its launch in February, the program has driven a measurable increase in participation, with breakfast counts rising by approximately 35 to 60 additional meals per day. The vending option supplements the school's existing cafeteria service, which continues to offer traditional hot breakfast items.

Meals are available 7:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. each school day. After that, the unit offers beverages for purchase, allowing it to remain in use throughout the school day. The machine was customized with school branding and colors, reinforcing its integration into the school environment.

A rotating selection of 10-12 self-contained meals are offered each school day. "The meals are prepared and packaged in-house by Metz staff as part of daily production," Koscienski said. "Each meal contains all the components required of the breakfast program." Stocking the machine is handled by a single Metz team member.

Operationally, the program has been designed for efficiency and ease of use. Following initial training, students quickly adapted to the system, which uses a secure PIN-based process tied to student accounts.

District leadership and Metz team members collaborated closely to bring the concept to life, with support from external partners and equipment providers. The result is a scalable model that can be adapted to meet the needs of other schools facing similar challenges around access and participation.

Looking ahead, the district is evaluating opportunities to expand the use of the vending platform, including potential after-school offerings. "This is about removing barriers," Koscienski said. "If we can make it easier for students to get breakfast, we're supporting their ability to focus, learn, and succeed."