MONROE - For the fourth year in a row, the Monroe school district will raise its lunch prices next year, this time by 10 cents across the board.
Lunches will cost $2.60 for elementary students in the 2017-18 school year, $2.85 for middle-schoolers, $3.05 for high-schoolers and $3.75 for adults.
The increase is required by the USDA, according to Business Administrator Ron Olson. He said the district has to increase its prices by no more than 10 cents per year until it meets a weighted price average of $2.86. Monroe's current weighted average is $2.72.
At a meeting earlier this month, Food Service Director Eric Ekum told the school board's finance committee that the food service program is not running a deficit but should still raise prices.
"I think it's important that we keep on this trend to reach that weighted average," Ekum said. "I know the program's still running in the black, but we have several pieces of kitchen equipment that's really, really old, and it's gonna someday need to be replaced, so I'd rather be in a good position where we do have the funds to buy (replacements)."
Milk prices will stay the same next year at 50 cents.
School fees will also mostly stay the same next year, with a few exceptions. A $6 fee for a recorder will be added for students in third grade, and a $5 fee for classroom materials will be added for students in sixth grade. There will no longer be a $2 physical education fee at the middle school.
The $9 device carrying case fee for those in middle school will jump to $25 to match the same high school fee, but the cases don't need to be purchased each year unless the student needs a replacement. The carrying case fee can also be waived once per student at each school building.
The school board unanimously approved the lunch price increases for 2017-18 and the 2017-18 school fees at a meeting Monday.
Out with the old, in with the new
After the board recognized Michael Boehme for the six years he served on the board and Brian Keith for his 10 years, new board members Nikki Matley and Cheryl McGuire and returning member Jim Plourde took the oath of office Monday.
Board president Bob Erb said he appreciated Keith's commitment to the district. Keith, who wasn't at the meeting, was instrumental in helping the district with issues it had in 2005, Erb said.
He and others noted Boehme's impact on the board, saying he was always positive, did what's best for students and took the jobs no one else wanted - a truth illustrated later when silence followed a request for a volunteer to take a position Boehme had held.
"You really will be missed," Plourde told him.
Boehme thanked the community for its support and encouraged someone on the school board to "keep an ear to Madison" as he has and follow political issues that affect schools.
Lunches will cost $2.60 for elementary students in the 2017-18 school year, $2.85 for middle-schoolers, $3.05 for high-schoolers and $3.75 for adults.
The increase is required by the USDA, according to Business Administrator Ron Olson. He said the district has to increase its prices by no more than 10 cents per year until it meets a weighted price average of $2.86. Monroe's current weighted average is $2.72.
At a meeting earlier this month, Food Service Director Eric Ekum told the school board's finance committee that the food service program is not running a deficit but should still raise prices.
"I think it's important that we keep on this trend to reach that weighted average," Ekum said. "I know the program's still running in the black, but we have several pieces of kitchen equipment that's really, really old, and it's gonna someday need to be replaced, so I'd rather be in a good position where we do have the funds to buy (replacements)."
Milk prices will stay the same next year at 50 cents.
School fees will also mostly stay the same next year, with a few exceptions. A $6 fee for a recorder will be added for students in third grade, and a $5 fee for classroom materials will be added for students in sixth grade. There will no longer be a $2 physical education fee at the middle school.
The $9 device carrying case fee for those in middle school will jump to $25 to match the same high school fee, but the cases don't need to be purchased each year unless the student needs a replacement. The carrying case fee can also be waived once per student at each school building.
The school board unanimously approved the lunch price increases for 2017-18 and the 2017-18 school fees at a meeting Monday.
Out with the old, in with the new
After the board recognized Michael Boehme for the six years he served on the board and Brian Keith for his 10 years, new board members Nikki Matley and Cheryl McGuire and returning member Jim Plourde took the oath of office Monday.
Board president Bob Erb said he appreciated Keith's commitment to the district. Keith, who wasn't at the meeting, was instrumental in helping the district with issues it had in 2005, Erb said.
He and others noted Boehme's impact on the board, saying he was always positive, did what's best for students and took the jobs no one else wanted - a truth illustrated later when silence followed a request for a volunteer to take a position Boehme had held.
"You really will be missed," Plourde told him.
Boehme thanked the community for its support and encouraged someone on the school board to "keep an ear to Madison" as he has and follow political issues that affect schools.