Cost of Salisbury Elementary School Lunch Will Increase

The price of lunch at Salisbury Township School District's two elementary schools will increase at least 5 cents in 2011-12 to comply with new federal guidelines for schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program, according to Christine Stafford, the district's Business Administrator.

Lunch at Western Salisbury and Harry S. Truman elementary schools currently costs $2.35.

The price increase is to comply with section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which requires a paid lunch to average at least as much as the district receives in federal subsidy for a free lunch, Stafford said.

"Research indicates that average prices charged for paid lunches in some [schools] are less than the cost of producing those lunches," according to U.S. Department of Agriculture "Equity in School Lunch Pricing" fact sheet issued in March.

"Pricing paid lunches below the cost of production effectively increases Federal subsidies for higher income students because Federal funds intended for free or reduced price lunches are being used to help fill the gap between what a paid lunch costs and what the school receives for it. Children across all income levels are negatively affected by limiting the funds available for nutritious meals," according to the USDA.

The increase cannot exceed 10 cents in any year, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Education letter sent to schools last month.

The price changes must begin July 1.