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Board approves policy to charge for second entrees; district estimates roughly $14,000 annual cost if subsidized
Summary
The school board approved 'version 1' of a policy to charge students for second entrées, bringing district practice into compliance with audit guidance. Staff said the district would face about $14,144 in costs if it absorbed a la carte second‑entree charges across buildings.
Klamath County SD on Monday adopted a revised food‑service policy that will require students to be charged for second entrees ("seconds") at a la carte prices when those items would otherwise be provided outside the reimbursable meal program.
District food‑service staff and administration told the board the change responds to auditors’ guidance that seconds must be charged to avoid drawing down the district’s reimbursable meal funds. Jamie (food‑service director) said food costs and commodities have risen in recent years and that the district’s previous pandemic‑era reimbursements had temporarily improved the food service bottom line; the district returned to normal operations and faces new cost pressure.
Janet (district staff member) provided a cost estimate for the board: if the district were to pick up the a la carte cost of seconds across all buildings, the estimated additional cost to the district would be about $14,144 (give or take, depending on building). Board members discussed the tradeoffs between meal waste, the labor required to collect payments, and the state and federal rules governing reimbursable meals.
After discussion, a board member moved to approve "version 1" of the policy change; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Board members asked administration to bring menu, waste and cost data to a future meeting so the board can evaluate meal selection, student acceptance and budget impact more closely. Jamie and other staff said they will continue menu planning and work to balance scratch cooking and commodity purchases while reducing waste.
