From the Decatur School Board’s agenda for the upcoming meeting this Tuesday…

In the past year the nutrition program has greatly increased the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals, this coupled with the fact that food and labor costs have gone up considerably has caused the program to use up the fund balance to cover expenses.

As discussed in recent budget meetings, a meal price increase will need to be implemented beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. The cost of a student lunches will go up 25 cents. The new meal prices will be as follows:

Elementary and ECLC Lunch $ 2.00

Academy, Middle and High School Lunch $ 2.25

These price increases will generate approximately $70,000 and will help to offset increased food costs.

In the past we have tried to keep our meal prices consistent with other metro districts, and this increase will not change that. Most metro school systems are implementing price increases for the upcoming school year.