District 205 raises adult meal prices after federal guideline change

The District 205 Board approved higher adult meal prices for the 2025–26 school year after staff said new federal guidance requires adult meals to be priced at least 50 cents above the reimbursed student rate. Under the action approved Monday, the adult breakfast price will increase from $2.70 to $3.35 and the adult lunch price from $3.80 to $5.05 for 2025–26, officials said. The change was described as a response to federal guidance on pricing for adult meals, and staff presented the revised figures as required by that guidance. During the discussion, a district staff member explained that the board had previously set student and adult prices in the spring but that a subsequent federal policy change required a new minimum spread between student reimbursements and adult prices. “With the current reimbursement, an adult meal has to be 50¢, a minimum of 50¢ higher than the student meal,” the presenter said, and recommended the new prices accordingly. The board moved, seconded and approved the price changes by voice vote. No offsetting local funding was reported; the presenter said the adjustment responds to the federal requirement rather than to local program changes. The board recorded the motion and carried the increase; no further amendments or follow-up tasks were directed at the meeting.