MONROE - Better put a little extra in the school lunch account.
Food prices are rising at the fastest clip in 20 years, fueled by raising production and transportation costs. Food prices rose about 3 percent last year, and are expected to rise as much as 6 percent this year, the United States Department of Agriculture reported in August. That overshadows earlier predictions that food prices would rise about 4 percent this year.
That makes a serious impact on a working family's grocery bill. It can hurt even more when you're responsible for feeding, for example, an entire school district of hungry students.
And that's why a number of school districts have raised the price for school lunch and/or milk. Most districts reported that they routinely look at lunch and milk prices over the summer months and make any adjustments necessary for the coming school year.
Here's a look at what area districts have decided for the 2008-09 school year:
ALBANY
Prices for school lunches and milk in Albany will remain the same. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade pay $2, fifth through 12th grade pay $2.25 and adults are charged $3. Milk costs 30 cents. Prices have been consistent for the past few years.
ARGYLE
In Argyle, lunch and milk prices will remain the same. The school board reviewed prices as it does every summer, but no change was made, said business manager Yvette Updike. Prices will remain at $1.50 for elementary school students, $2 for middle and high school students and $2.75 for adults. Milk is 25 cents. Updike said the district last raised prices two years ago.
BLACK HAWK
Lunch prices in Black Hawk are going up for the first time even people working in the office can remember, bookkeeper Jane Crotty said. Meals for Early Childhood through fourth grade are increasing from $1.55 to $1.80; fifth through 12th grade, $1.80 to $2.15; and adults, $2.55 to $3.25.
BRODHEAD
The Brodhead school district raised prices 20 cents across the board. Elementary school lunches will be $1.70, while middle school and high school lunches will be $1.90. Adult lunches will cost $2.75. The cost for milk will remain at 30 cents.
The district also raised milk and meal prices by a nickel last year. Before that, it had been seven to nine years since prices had increased.
DARLINGTON
The Darlington district is increasing prices 10 cents across the board, to $2.40 for kindergarten to sixth-grade students; $2.70 for seventh- through 12th-graders; and $3.70 for adults. Milk will remain at 25 cents. The district last raised prices two years ago.
MONROE
Students will shell out a nickel more for milk, as the Monroe district raises the price of a half-pint carton from 25 to 30 cents. The district has been breaking even on its food service costs, and while rising food costs may signal a deficit this fall, surplus funds will cover it, Business Manager Ron Olson said. The district last raised its food service prices about three years ago.
MONTICELLO
In Monticello, elementary school lunches will increase from $1.80 to $2.10; middle and high school lunches from $2.05 to $2.35; and adult lunches from $2.80 to $3. Milk prices will increase from 30 to 35 cents.
NEW GLARUS
New Glarus raised lunch prices 10 cents across the board from last year. Elementary lunches will now cost $2.20, while middle and high school lunches increase to $2.45. Adult lunches now cost $3.20. Milk remains at 35 cents.
PECATONICA
In Pecatonica, milk prices are increasing from 25 to 30 cents. Lunches will remain at $2 for first through sixth grade; $2.50 for seventh through 12th grade; and $3.75 for adults. The last time the district raised its prices was for the 2004-05 school year.
Food prices are rising at the fastest clip in 20 years, fueled by raising production and transportation costs. Food prices rose about 3 percent last year, and are expected to rise as much as 6 percent this year, the United States Department of Agriculture reported in August. That overshadows earlier predictions that food prices would rise about 4 percent this year.
That makes a serious impact on a working family's grocery bill. It can hurt even more when you're responsible for feeding, for example, an entire school district of hungry students.
And that's why a number of school districts have raised the price for school lunch and/or milk. Most districts reported that they routinely look at lunch and milk prices over the summer months and make any adjustments necessary for the coming school year.
Here's a look at what area districts have decided for the 2008-09 school year:
ALBANY
Prices for school lunches and milk in Albany will remain the same. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade pay $2, fifth through 12th grade pay $2.25 and adults are charged $3. Milk costs 30 cents. Prices have been consistent for the past few years.
ARGYLE
In Argyle, lunch and milk prices will remain the same. The school board reviewed prices as it does every summer, but no change was made, said business manager Yvette Updike. Prices will remain at $1.50 for elementary school students, $2 for middle and high school students and $2.75 for adults. Milk is 25 cents. Updike said the district last raised prices two years ago.
BLACK HAWK
Lunch prices in Black Hawk are going up for the first time even people working in the office can remember, bookkeeper Jane Crotty said. Meals for Early Childhood through fourth grade are increasing from $1.55 to $1.80; fifth through 12th grade, $1.80 to $2.15; and adults, $2.55 to $3.25.
BRODHEAD
The Brodhead school district raised prices 20 cents across the board. Elementary school lunches will be $1.70, while middle school and high school lunches will be $1.90. Adult lunches will cost $2.75. The cost for milk will remain at 30 cents.
The district also raised milk and meal prices by a nickel last year. Before that, it had been seven to nine years since prices had increased.
DARLINGTON
The Darlington district is increasing prices 10 cents across the board, to $2.40 for kindergarten to sixth-grade students; $2.70 for seventh- through 12th-graders; and $3.70 for adults. Milk will remain at 25 cents. The district last raised prices two years ago.
MONROE
Students will shell out a nickel more for milk, as the Monroe district raises the price of a half-pint carton from 25 to 30 cents. The district has been breaking even on its food service costs, and while rising food costs may signal a deficit this fall, surplus funds will cover it, Business Manager Ron Olson said. The district last raised its food service prices about three years ago.
MONTICELLO
In Monticello, elementary school lunches will increase from $1.80 to $2.10; middle and high school lunches from $2.05 to $2.35; and adult lunches from $2.80 to $3. Milk prices will increase from 30 to 35 cents.
NEW GLARUS
New Glarus raised lunch prices 10 cents across the board from last year. Elementary lunches will now cost $2.20, while middle and high school lunches increase to $2.45. Adult lunches now cost $3.20. Milk remains at 35 cents.
PECATONICA
In Pecatonica, milk prices are increasing from 25 to 30 cents. Lunches will remain at $2 for first through sixth grade; $2.50 for seventh through 12th grade; and $3.75 for adults. The last time the district raised its prices was for the 2004-05 school year.