The price of a student lunch at Gillett schools will increase in September for the first time in five years.
The school board Feb. 20 approved a recommendation to increase elementary school lunches from the current $2.85 to $2.95. Middle and high school students will go from $2.95 to $3.25. Breakfasts will remain at $2.10.
Kristie Feffer, food services director, presented a review that compared lunch prices with what students are charged in Bonduel, Lena, Oconto Falls and Suring. Gillett’s current rates are below all of the other districts except Suring Elementary School, which charges $2.75. Suring secondary students already pay $3.25, she said.
“I know that food service has had a surplus over the last few years, and we were able to carry that through,” Feffer said. “Costs of food have obviously gone up … it’s just a recommendation that we keep the pace with everyone else.”
Superintendent Nathan Hanson said budget numbers project that the surplus will turn into a deficit within the next five years.
“Basically when you look at our five-year projections, the first year is always the most accurate and the fifth year is the least accurate,” Hanson said. “But when you look at those projections, if we don’t do something about increasing the meals, we will run into the red at some point.”
Feffer said the recommendation from the state Department of Public Instruction is to generate small annual increases rather than a big jump.
“DPI does not have a required amount that they expect you to charge for this; it’s up to us,” she said. “They do suggest that we try not to increase more than 10 cents per year so the burden doesn’t fall on the families, but we have not increased in at least five years that I’m aware of.”
Hanson said the increase does not affect summer school but would take effect with the new school year in the fall.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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