After holding off on increases across the board last year, meal prices will be only slightly higher when school is back in session with breakfast and lunch increasing by a dime.

The 10 cent increase for breakfast and lunch prices was approved unanimously as an item in the consent agenda of the July 17 school board meeting, which also saw the approval of the 2024-2025 budget.

Meal prices were increased for the first time in six years during the 2022-2023 school year and last year lunch received a small increase of 10 cents to students and 30 cents for adults, according to the explanation provided during the July 17 meeting.

The district's meal prices have been increased for both breakfast and lunch in order to cover an increase in food cost of over 2.5%, and increased costs within the district’s food service program.

This brings the breakfast prices to $2.25 for elementary school prices, $2.50 for middle school and high school prices and $3.00 for adults. Lunch prices are $3.60 at the elementary schools, $3.85 at the middle school and high school and $5.00 for adults. 

“We didn’t increase breakfast meal prices last year in the hopes of retaining or increasing breakfast meals but have seen no increase in participation,” the explanation said. “In order to stay current with meal costs we are recommending the 10 cent increase for the current school year.”

Following the approval of the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year on July 17, the school district received a price increase from Powell Dairy causing a 5 cent bump to the price of additional milk. This increase was
added to the original explanation document and approved unanimously via consent agenda during the Aug. 13 board meeting. 

Reduced meal prices will not change, as they are set at the federal level and will stay at 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.