Danville Special Education Students Receive Hands-On Experience at New Coffee Trailer

 THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY

DANVILLE — Whether Danville school district teachers and staff wanted warm coffee or a cool lemonade as part of their first day back from summer break Monday, students at the Viking Perks and Bistro Coffee Shop trailer had them covered.

“It’s been good,” adult special-education student Victoria Stark said about the orders coming in and out of the trailer. She was joined by Danville High School junior Jacob Harris and senior Joseph Willis in the trailer. They know the ropes and will be training other students this school year to work at the coffee shop.

North Ridge Middle School seventh-grade teacher Aundrea Rose ordered a French-vanilla cappuccino from the shop, while special-education teacher Tori Appl ordered a raspberry lemonade.

“I think it’s awesome,” Appl said about the trailer and student opportunities.

The district employees were at the high school Monday morning for a districtwide meeting. There was a pretty decent crowd at the trailer.

The coffee shop will be starting Year 11 at the high school, operating out of the classroom of Kim Fraser, special-education teacher and Student Training Employment Program coordinator. The life-skills special-education students serve staff, taking orders in the morning. They get the orders off the computer, make the drinks, put the labels on the cups, deliver the orders and take the money.

They started traveling to other school buildings, too, once a week, but it’s a big job to pack up all their items, Fraser said.

A few months ago, Fraser approached district officials about taking the coffee shop on the road in a coffee trailer/food truck.

Fraser said she received overwhelming support for her idea. The Wheeler Foundation also helped with a grant to help get it off the ground.

The new trailer was first used Monday outside the high school.

“It’s been about an eight-month project in getting it, with all the decals Apparel Unlimited here in Danville did that for us,” Fraser said. “We are going to partner with Mad Goat (Coffee) to get a signature brew and to get our supplies of coffee and whatnot from them.”

District staff are continuing their support of the coffee shop.

“The staff has been very, very supportive, and it all benefits the kids,” Fraser said.

The trailer currently serves coffee and other beverages. There are plans to add food, such as breakfast and lunch items of bagels, paninis and the like, starting in January.

The trailer accepts only cash at the moment, but they have plans to take credit cards soon.

The trailer provides vocational opportunities and skills to special-education students in the district.

Fraser said the coffee shop prepares the students for jobs in the community. The district’s food service director also hires about seven special-education students.

The goal is to expand community-based access and vocational opportunities for students. Students are in the community to cash checks, buy items for cooking lessons, experience hands-on activities and attend jobs. The students can assist in the development, management and day-to-day operations of a coffee shop.

The students will obtain appropriate licenses to ensure they are ready for a position in the community after they graduate.