Board keeps student meal prices steady but restores 40¢ charge for reduced‑price lunches

The McCutcheon School Corporation Board on Tuesday voted to keep student meal prices unchanged for the 2025–26 school year and to reinstate a 40‑cent charge for students classified as reduced‑price for lunch while breakfast will remain free.

Missus Parshall, the district’s nutrition director, told the board the district has not yet received 2025–26 state reimbursement rates and is proposing to keep adult and student meal prices the same as last year. She said charging reduced students 40¢ for lunch would eliminate an estimated $12,000 annual cost the district has been absorbing to provide those lunches at no charge.

Under the action approved by the board, proposed prices are: student breakfast (K–12) $1.50; elementary lunch $2.40; middle school lunch tiered at $2.55 or $3.00 depending on selection; and high school lunch tiered at $2.75, $3.00 or $3.25 depending on selection. Parshall asked the board to allow staff the flexibility to revisit prices once the state issues reimbursement rates; she said any emergency or out‑of‑cycle change would require a special board meeting.

Board members said they want staff the flexibility to respond to late changes in state or federal programs; a board member noted the nutrition office has recently needed to pivot based on guidance from state or federal agencies. Parshall also said the district relies in part on community donations to address negative student account balances but said those donations cannot be guaranteed.

Ending: The board approved the meal pricing plan 7‑0 and instructed staff to monitor state reimbursement guidance and return to the board if changes are needed.