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Pulaski board raises meal prices 25¢, approves $25.26 student fee and ends $2 online transaction charge
Summary
Pulaski trustees approved a 25¢ across-the-board increase to school meal prices, a proposed $25.26 student fee, and removal of a $2 online payment fee effective July 1 to comply with upcoming federal rules and to offset rising food and staffing costs.
The Pulaski Community School District board voted unanimously to raise meal prices by 25¢ and to approve a $25.26 student fee at its regular meeting, and the district announced it will stop charging a $2 online transaction fee beginning July 1.
Mark, the district's finance lead, told trustees the quarter-cent-per-meal increase is intended "just to offset the cost" of rising food and staffing expenses and to avoid larger increases later. "We're all pretty much in the same ... ballpark for the prices," he said, describing neighboring districts' similar moves.
John, who oversees food service, described operational changes to improve meal quality while working within National School Lunch Program commodity rules; he and Mark said the additional quarter per meal helps keep the food service fund from running a deficit. Mark said the district will continue planned capital projects in kitchens and expects to use fund balance for some kitchen upgrades.
Board members noted a federal law taking effect in 2027 that will prohibit charging transaction fees to families of free or reduced-price students; Mark said the district is moving now to eliminate the $2 convenience fee for online payments to simplify collections and to make family costs fairer. "A federal law is going into place in 2027 where you cannot charge a transaction fee to a free and reduced student," he said.
Administrators said the student fee covers consumable program materials, licenses and course resources; district staff said the fee level has not been raised in more than five years and that the $2 convenience fee will also be removed from student fee transactions when the change takes effect.
The board approved the meal-price change, the student fee, and the removal of the online transaction fee by unanimous voice votes. Administrators said the increases should keep food service and student fee revenue and expenses roughly in balance for the coming year, but they will bring year-end transfers and any budget revisions to the board in June or July.
