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Dixon schools keep breakfast and lunch prices unchanged for 2025-26; USDA rules noted
Summary
The board approved keeping breakfast and lunch prices the same for 2025-26 after staff said the district currently qualifies for exemptions but could be required to raise prices gradually under USDA paid-lunch-equity rules.
The Dixon Board of Education voted to keep student breakfast and lunch prices unchanged for the 2025-26 school year.
District staff said they worked with the Illinois State Board of Education and used the USDA paid-lunch-equity calculator, which can require districts to raise prices by 10 cents per year until they reach the USDA threshold. The presenter said the district's current lunch price of $3.05 is below the USDA benchmark (about $3.85), but that Dixon has qualified for exemptions in recent years and is one of 33 public schools maintaining a positive cash flow in its food service operation.
The presenter explained Winston (the food service vendor) bills the district per-meal and for a la carte items, and the district receives state meal reimbursements. Staff said the district's positive cash flow enabled the recommendation to hold prices steady; they cautioned exemptions could change in the future.
The motion to keep prices the same passed on a roll call vote with all board members voting aye.
