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Board renews Fresh Picks contract and approves modest meal price increase amid $40,000 negative balances
Summary
The Somersworth School Board renewed its Fresh Picks food‑service contract and approved small meal price increases — 15¢ for elementary lunches and 10¢ for middle/high lunches — after administrators said the program faces about $40,000 in unpaid balances.
The Somersworth School Board voted to renew its contract with food‑service provider Fresh Picks and approved modest per‑meal price increases to keep the program near break‑even.
Business Administrator Katie (Business administrator) told the board Fresh Picks proposed a 15¢ increase for elementary lunches and a 10¢ increase for middle and high school lunches; the district could instead choose no increase and absorb an estimated subsidy. Katie said the district currently budgets for a negative balance transfer and that unpaid meal balances in recent years have been about $40,000.
“If we don't increase price… the district would need to subsidize $10,398 to the program,” Katie told the board when describing the “no increase” option in the packet.
Board members and community commenters urged outreach to families to complete free‑and‑reduced‑price applications and noted that small per‑meal increases multiply across households with multiple children. One board member said the difference would be about $18–$27 per child per year, depending on grade level.
The board voted on two actions: first to accept the Fresh Picks contract renewal, and second to approve the proposed price schedule that raises elementary lunch to $3.25 (from $3.10) and middle/high lunch to $3.40 (from $3.30). The motion to renew the contract passed; the motion to adopt the price increases passed on a roll call vote (Maggie Larson: yes; Carrie Clark: no; Sarah Bridal Hart: yes; Crystal d Saint Croix: no; Marsha Brown: yes; Bridget Jamieson: yes; Carly Prescott: yes).
Administrators said unpaid meal balances remain a top priority and that they will continue outreach including statements to families, notification emails from the vendor and offering payment plans for accounts that exceed district thresholds.
