Another Lunch Price Increase Possible in District 196

On Monday evening, the School District 196 Board of Education is expected to discuss a proposed, 10-cent lunch price increase because of federal mandates and increasing food costs.

The board is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday at in Apple Valley.

This will be the second year in a row district officials will bring a potential lunch-price increase before the board.

The reason, according to a memo to the board, is twofold:

• The federal Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 gives mandates about what types of foods schools need to serve, including more fresh produce and whole grains, as well as about how much each student must contribute to meal costs; and
• The price of commodities and energy are causing food providers to increase food purchase prices for the district.

Last year, the board voted 4-2 for the 5-cent lunch price increase across the board, bringing this year's lunch prices to $2.10 in elementary schools, $2.25 in middle and high schools and $3.30 for adult meals. The current 10-cent increase proposed is for elementary and high school, as well as adults' meals.

Before that, the last time lunch prices increased in the district .

The board also will be asked Monday to approve a capital expenditures budget for 2012-13, which was first presented to board members in February.

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