Laurel board studies lunch price hike
The Laurel Highlands School Board heard a proposal to increase school lunch prices from the district director of food services during its work session Tuesday. Gerald Lofstead presented the board with information regarding price increases varying from 10 to 25 cents along with the amount of income projected from the various rises in price.
Lofstead requested the maximum increase to help offset a loss in the cafeteria budget.
He estimated a 25-cent increase would generate $45,548 for the district and help offset higher, “across the board” food costs expected to impact the district again this year.
Lofstead said the price increase would affect 45 percent of students who pay the full lunch price. The other 55 percent either pay a reduced lunch price or receive lunch for free, depending on their family’s income, said Lofstead.
Elementary students currently pay $1.75 for lunch, while middle and high school students are charged $2.
“It’s only going to affect a small portion of the people, but if we don’t (increase the price), we could see it in taxes anyway,” Lofstead told the board.
Information presented to the board listed the district’s elementary lunch prices as the second highest among four districts in the county. The highest price listed was $1.85.
Three other districts also charge $2, the same amount as Laurel Highlands, for a middle or high school lunch, according to the information. The fourth charges $2.15.
Last year, shortly before the start of school, the majority of board members voted not to increase lunch prices by 15 cents. Director Bill Elias then said the price increase would have reduced a projected $74,600 deficit in the cafeteria budget by $27,329.
Lofstead had proposed the increase, then citing a higher cost to purchase food and milk and to pay the insurance and health benefits of food service workers.
He said the amount of this year’s loss is not known until an audit is completed. He said the audit should be done in January.
The board also heard from the district director of curriculum about the success of an academic recovery program held this summer.
Beth Hutson said seven of the 10 students expected to attend took part in the program.
Hutson gave credit to teachers Barb Rockwell and Jennifer Anderson for bringing every student who participated up to grade level through intensive instruction.
It was the first time the program was offered to elementary students at risk of failing. Students with grades in the 55 or 65 percent range in reading, math or both were eligible.
“(Before the program,) if (the elementary students) failed, they failed,” said Dr. Gary Brain, superintendent.
“We’re trying to get kids to not fail and give them the opportunity to catch up,” he said, noting the district operates a similar program for 10th graders.
During the work session, the board also entered into executive session for matters related to hiring teachers, negotiations and readmitting a student who was expelled.
Attending the work session were directors Mary Conway, Beverly Beal, Jim Tobal, Norma Santore, Lyn Andaloro, Angelo Giachetti, Tom Vernon and Curtis Jacobs. Elias was absent from the meeting.
The board will hold its monthly business meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school library. The board then could approve an increase in lunch prices and vote on the other items discussed during the work session.
herald_standa477:
http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20013795