With cautious eyes on rising food and fuel prices as they plan the budget, Lawrence school board members Monday night approved a 10 cent increase to most school meals.
But their sentiment was that it could have been worse.
"One of the things I'm pleased with is our meal prices have gone up so little given what's going on in the world," board member Scott Morgan said.
School districts nationally are dealing with higher food prices, and the Lawrence district is also trying to emphasize nutrition in its offerings, administrators said.
Paula Murrish, the division director of food services, said market trends have shown increases on items anywhere from 8 percent to as much as 16 percent.
The plan passed Monday night means elementary student lunches will cost $2.10, and junior high and high school lunches would increase to $2.35. Adult lunches have a 20 cent bump to $3. Breakfast prices will also go up by a dime.
Last year, the district increased its lunch prices by 10 cents for students and 15 cents for adults.
Murrish said the plan for next year also involves trying to save on food waste, including offering one hot entree and two cold entrees at elementary schools, instead of four total.
"We're trying to find that balance of being frugal but yet making sure we meet the needs of our customers and the demand of our parents without pricing ourselves out of the business," she said.
Board members also unanimously approved a $1.75 fee that will be charged on credit or debit card transactions to the district's food services department made online through the Nutrikids software.
Nutrikids staff will retain the fee and manage the credit card payment process, taking the responsibility away from the district's food services and business department.
Nutrikids will also give parents online access to their account, which will allow them to check what their children have eaten in the last 30 days.
During another discussion Monday, Morgan voiced frustration that no reductions to any enrollment or other school fees were recommended for next school year.
Most board members asked that they discuss the issue in coming months, likely with an eye toward the 2009-2010 school year. The board passed the fee schedule, 6-1, with Morgan opposed.
Monday's school board session was the first official meeting of the 2008-2009 school year, and board members elected Craig Grant as president. Morgan is the new vice president.
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otto (anonymous) says…
The taking of credit cards is a convenience that I would guess has saved food service alot of time. Be prepared to hire someone new now that most wont want to pay $1.75 to process. I'll be sending a check. Some will send bad checks.
reality (anonymous) says…
When you have more than one child in school, the lunches become very expensive! I will definately not be putting my credit card on there for auto payment anymore! After reading this, I think that I might be packing my kids some lunch with leftover dinners! (Which would be a MUCH better lunch than what they are getting at school) I already think that it is insane that if my child wants a frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich, carton of milk, (which they make the kids take, and they don't drink) and 3 baby carrots that we are charged full price. The school district considers a sliced pickle as a vegetable side. I think they have already skimmed their choice of food standards way down! We started fixing our own lunches last year, but we will definately be doing a lot more of it this year!
cg22165 (anonymous) says…
Anecdotal tidbits:I was taught in a college course that the school lunch program was pushed and rejected multiple times leading up to around WWII and it was finally implemented because there were too many potential soldiers that had to be rejected because of health issues related to malnutrition.A nice counterpoint is that Reagan, who won so much favor for 'strengthening' America, started the downslide of the school lunch nutritional value by declaring ketchup to be a vegetable in order to save money being spent on the program.It isn't the local school personnel who are downgrading the nutritional value of the meals.And, you can blame yourself if your kids aren't drinking their milk.
tvc (anonymous) says…
Milk is not natural. Why are you still nursing from a cow?
jcstepmom28 (anonymous) says…
TVC are cheese and butter unnatural then too? They are made from the same milk.ORWould you rather I hop over to the school at noontime and plop out my own milk supply for my elementary aged child?
fu7il3 (anonymous) says…
"Milk is not natural. Why are you still nursing from a cow?"Because my mom would be embarassed in public with a 30 year old guy hanging from her breast.
tvc (anonymous) says…
Cheese is made from milk!? I had no idea; I thought it grew as slices on cheese trees! I would like you to make your child some cheese with your breast milk.
tvc (anonymous) says…
fu, I think you are supposed to switch to your wife's breast at 30. I believe that is what all other primates do.
fu7il3 (anonymous) says…
I'm all for the school lunch program for one reason. I grew up in a poverty stricken area. There were families on free lunches whose kids ate breakfast and lunch at school, and that might be the only thing they got to eat all day.I'll probably send lunch with my kid when he is old enough, but it is nice to have the program there for those that need it.
deskboy04 (anonymous) says…
How much does the food service director make?
georgeofwesternkansas (anonymous) says…
"deskboy04 (Anonymous) says: How much does the food service director make?"What does it matter?? Are you looking for a job?
repaste (anonymous) says…
Lawrence school lunch program pays it s own way. They are now hiring a nutritionalist. You are not to bring any food i marked packaging. You cannot bring cupcakes for treats anymore. The foos they serve is as unhealthy as you can find - high salt, fatty, right out of a box, thawed heated held for hours. They need help, find food kids will eat, dont just send a memo from the board. The food is unhealthy, the guidlines stupid, shortsighted. Find a few local folks to look over US Foods inventory and find some other choices.
cg22165 (anonymous) says…
"deskboy04 (Anonymous) says:How much does the food service director make?"Don't know, but I'd bet it is a lot less they he/she would be making in the private sector.
terrapin2 (anonymous) says…
Multidisplinary,Wow, are you cheap or what? The last loaf of Homepride Buttertop wheat I bought was $3 a loaf. And the only grape jelly I'll ever buy is Welch's! And it is definitely more than $0.99! And Smucker's natural peanut butter is WAY better than any of the fully-hydrogenated oil-laden peanut butter like HyVee, Jif, Skippy, etc. The reality is that school lunch programs are given very little money to work with and are expected to feed kids who are becoming increasingly picky about what they eat. My mom helped run the Topeka West high school cafeteria for many years before managing the Landon Middle school cafeteria. She worked her a$$ off for many years trying to do the right thing for all those kids. And I bet there are a lot of moms working in the Lawrence school cafeterias that are trying to do the same thing! The fact that our food prices are rising at an alarming rate I'd say a 10 cent increase for a school lunch is VERY reasonable!