Board approves 35¢ lunch price increase after district warns program could lose $150,000 without action

The Newington Board of Education voted on June 11 to increase paid school lunch prices by 35¢ for the 2025–26 school year, after Food and Nutrition Services Director Dana (last name not provided) told the board the program faces substantial revenue declines since federal universal meal funding ended.

Dana told the board the program is projecting an annual operating shortfall of roughly $150,000 if paid prices remain unchanged and that a 35¢ increase would generate about $63,000 in additional revenue. She said participation dropped sharply when universal free meals ended and the district is serving roughly 5,340 fewer paid lunches per day compared with the universal period, reducing federal and state reimbursement dollars tied to participation.

“Additional funding ended 06/30/2023,” Dana said during her presentation, citing the loss of pandemic-era reimbursements. She also described the statutory requirement in Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to minimize the price gap between paid and free-reimbursed meals; the district’s paid/pricing gap was 79¢ at middle and high school and $1.29 at elementary schools as presented.

Dana presented three price scenarios — 25¢, 35¢ and 50¢ increases — and recommended 50¢ as the option most likely to maintain a fully self-supporting program and avoid another immediate increase the next year. Board members discussed trade-offs between austerity for families and preserving the program’s cash reserves; Business Manager Lou (surname not stated) explained that the lunch operation has reserves remaining from the pandemic period but that allowing reserves to deplete would leave the program vulnerable if equipment fails or participation falls further.

Board member Timothy Newton moved the 35¢ increase and the board approved the motion by roll call. Recorded responses during the roll call in the meeting transcript show multiple members voted in favor while Board member Anastasia Yap voted no; the motion carried.

The board also heard that no student would be denied a meal: Superintendent Bramlett (name as stated in the meeting record) said the district will continue to ensure meals for children in need. Dana said the district will continue free breakfast for reduced-eligible students, work with local farms where practicable and pursue grants when available. She listed menu expansions already introduced — plant-based options, teriyaki salmon and local produce partnerships — and said the program will continue outreach to families with unpaid lunch balances (about $5,600 on the books at the time of the meeting).

Board members asked for additional data on food waste and menu acceptance and suggested the district pursue local-farm partnerships and grant opportunities to offset costs. The board’s action sets new lunch prices for the coming school year; administrators and staff will monitor participation and finances and report back if further changes are required.

Speakers quoted or named in the meeting included Dana (Food and Nutrition Services director), Business Manager Lou, and Board member Timothy Newton (mover).