School Lunch Prices to Increase

School lunch will be more expensive this academic year for students enrolled in the and other districts across the country. 

A provision of the federal government’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, signed by President Barack Obama last year, requires a rate increase for some. The law mandates that every district adjust its meal prices to ensure the overall rate is comparable with federal reimbursement rates.

At BSD elementary schools, students will pay $2.30 for lunch, up from $2.25 last year. At secondary schools, lunches were $2.50 last year; this year, they'll be $2.55.  

Breakfast is offered for $1.35, or 30 cents for students in the reduced-meal program, at , and but those prices will not change, BSD Aramark Food Service Director LaVon Larson wrote in an e-mail to Berkley Patch.

The United States Department of Agriculture reimburses districts $2.72 per meal for each lunch served to students who are eligible for free meals. Many districts, federal officials found, charged less for meals and less than the cost of making them. The act requires schools charge closer to an average of $2.46 per meal. Districts have time to meet the price target and most will slowly increase to meet the new requirements. (See the attached PDF for more information about the price calculations.)

"The Board Finance Committee had some lively discussion around this topic with obvious reservations about being mandated to raise prices when we’ve been good stewards of Food Service Fund resources as a district in the past," BSD Deputy Superintendent of Finance, Facilities and Operations Larry Gallagher said in an Aug. 8 presentation to the Board of Education. "I spoke with Howard Leikert at the (Michigan Department of Education) and he understands the district’s reservations about passing on an increase under scenarios such as Berkley’s.

"However, he was quick to mention that this is law and districts are strongly encouraged to comply," Gallagher said. "He did not know what the penalty of not complying would be at this point but my feeling is that the feds could withhold a portion of our free and reduced reimbursement monies."

Gallagher said he felt compelled to explain the reason for the increases to the board and the public because he had previously stated lunch prices would not go up this year.

Fortunately, Larson said she does not expect the price increases will impact lunch sales, although she does anticipate more free and reduced lunch applications this year.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, aimed at improving health and nutrition among children, also requires districts to include healthier menu items.

"The food service is committed to meeting and/or exceeding all nutritional requirements for the NSLP," wrote Larson, who added: 

• "Berkley Schools offer 1% white, and skim (fat free) chocolate milk only. Another (aspect of the act that is in place) is having water available free of charge during meal service.
• "We have fruit and veggie bars in Berkley High School, and , and are planning to implement a bar in this fall. 
• "Norup and s have multiple choices of fruits and veggies each day. The hot vegetable choices each week have at least one orange and one dark green vegetable. 
• "Our buns and bread (at the elementary level) are whole grain white. There have not been, nor will there be any fried foods in the elementary school: All items are baked. 
• "We will be offering french fries in the secondary schools only two times per week this year. Last year, we offered them daily. This may have a short term impact on sales, but the students will adjust, and I don't anticipate any long term effect on revenue."

Larson said the act also called for a public comment period, which ended in April; 130,000 comments were received and are being reviewed before final nutritional requirements are issued.

"I think that the changes in the nutritional requirements will be announced later this year with implementation in the 2012-13 school year," she said.