MONROE - Breakfast and lunch prices in the Monroe school district are increasing next year, but they're still at or below the prices in surrounding school districts.
School board members unanimously voted for the increases at its monthly meeting Monday, June 10.
Increases are mandated by federal laws that set a pricing threshold. Monroe will still be below that threshold.
The district has also seen climbing food service costs.
"We had frozen our rate for a number of years because our food service was in the black," said Ron Olson, business administrator. In recent years, "our costs finally caught up."
Kindergartners through fifth graders will be paying 15 cents more for both meals, bringing the cost to $1.05 for breakfast and $2.10 for lunch.
Middle school students will see prices go up 10 cents for breakfast, to $1.35, and 15 cents for lunch, to $2.35.
High schoolers will pay the same amount for breakfast, $1.50, but 10 cents more for lunch, from $2.45 to $2.55.
Those dimes and nickels add up. The district estimates it will see an annual revenue increase of about $21,046.
Many students in the district take advantage of reduced or free meals. In the 2012-13 school year, 40.3 percent districtwide were signed up for the program. Families qualify based on federal poverty levels.
The 40.3 percent includes all students within the district, including virtual students who may live hundreds of miles away, so Olson says the overall percentage is likely higher when accounting only for brick-and-mortar students.
At Parkside Elementary, 56.1 percent of students are enrolled in reduced or free meals; at Abraham Accelerated Learning Academy, 49.5 percent; at Northside Elementary, 34.3 percent.
Monroe Middle School free and reduced enrollment is at 38.6 percent; at Monroe High School it drops to 31.4 percent.
Olson said he encourages all parents who qualify to fill out paperwork for the free and reduced programs, even if their children won't be eating the school meals. Besides the financial break, it helps the district accurately report district poverty levels that help determine some federal funding.
Free and reduced enrollment is a good indication of overall district poverty levels and "we want to be as accurate as possible," Olson said.
School board members unanimously voted for the increases at its monthly meeting Monday, June 10.
Increases are mandated by federal laws that set a pricing threshold. Monroe will still be below that threshold.
The district has also seen climbing food service costs.
"We had frozen our rate for a number of years because our food service was in the black," said Ron Olson, business administrator. In recent years, "our costs finally caught up."
Kindergartners through fifth graders will be paying 15 cents more for both meals, bringing the cost to $1.05 for breakfast and $2.10 for lunch.
Middle school students will see prices go up 10 cents for breakfast, to $1.35, and 15 cents for lunch, to $2.35.
High schoolers will pay the same amount for breakfast, $1.50, but 10 cents more for lunch, from $2.45 to $2.55.
Those dimes and nickels add up. The district estimates it will see an annual revenue increase of about $21,046.
Many students in the district take advantage of reduced or free meals. In the 2012-13 school year, 40.3 percent districtwide were signed up for the program. Families qualify based on federal poverty levels.
The 40.3 percent includes all students within the district, including virtual students who may live hundreds of miles away, so Olson says the overall percentage is likely higher when accounting only for brick-and-mortar students.
At Parkside Elementary, 56.1 percent of students are enrolled in reduced or free meals; at Abraham Accelerated Learning Academy, 49.5 percent; at Northside Elementary, 34.3 percent.
Monroe Middle School free and reduced enrollment is at 38.6 percent; at Monroe High School it drops to 31.4 percent.
Olson said he encourages all parents who qualify to fill out paperwork for the free and reduced programs, even if their children won't be eating the school meals. Besides the financial break, it helps the district accurately report district poverty levels that help determine some federal funding.
Free and reduced enrollment is a good indication of overall district poverty levels and "we want to be as accurate as possible," Olson said.
