Connellsville hikes lunch prices
CONNELLSVILLE – Higher food costs and lower student participation in the Connellsville Area School District lunch program have forced the board to increase prices for the 2003-2004 school year. Gloria Clawson, director of food services, said this year elementary students will pay $1.50 for the afternoon meal, while those at the junior and senior high school level will have to pay $1.75. Adults wishing to purchase lunch will pay $2.60. Breakfast can be purchased at the elementary or secondary level for 75 cents.
The prices are up 10 cents over last year, said Clawson.
“It’s a moderate price hike,” she said. “In the past we have had to increase it by 15 cents.”
Clawson said the district lunch costs are in line with other school districts within the county. Laurel Highlands, Norwin and Belle Vernon charge similar prices, she said, with Albert Gallatin and Southmoreland charging less and Mount Pleasant at a higher rate.
District students, whose families meet income guidelines, are able to take part in a federally subsidized reduced price or free lunch program.
According to Clawson, a family of four with an income of less than $34,000 will pay only 40 cents for a school lunch.
On average, she said, 58 percent of the student population is enrolled in the program.
In other action, the board also:
– Approved Schneider’s Dairy to supply milk products to the senior high school, Junior High West, and Dunbar Township, South Side and Zachariah Connell elementary schools. Fike’s Dairy was approved to supply products to Junior High East and Dunbar Borough, Bullskin Township, Connellsville Township, C.N. Pritts and Springfield Township elementary schools.
– Hired Karen Stimmel as a cafeteria manager.
– Agreed to a $6.26 per hour salary for substitute cafeteria workers.
– Contracted with Roth Brothers Mechanical of Youngstown, Ohio, to install new air handling units and related variable frequency drives at the senior high school at a cost of $285,000.
– Approved a construction change order at the new Springfield Elementary School at a cost savings of $25,000. Michael Omatick, director of buildings and grounds, said the reduced price stemmed from the use of metal pipe for the construction of the storm water retention system rather than plastic pipe.
– Agreed to develop specifications and advertise for bids for the sale of the Bullskin Township Elementary School sewage treatment plant.
– Approved a $7 per hour salary for district substitute custodians.
– Added guidance counselors Dana Fitzpatrick, Susan Meadows, Sara Painley, Marnie Goldblum, Robin Johnston and Molly Harbst to the professional employee substitute list.
– Named Roger Haigh as elementary school all-star band director.
– Retained dental examiners Dr. Dale Cadwallader, Dr. Joseph Chomiak, Dr. Richard Grimaldi, Dr. Frank Jacobyansky and Dr. Gerry Perez.