Merrill board renews food-service contract, ends universal breakfast and approves 10¢ meal price increase

The Merrill Area School District Board on May 14 approved a 2025–26 contract renewal with the district’s food-service provider and authorized a 10¢ meal price increase while discontinuing universal free breakfast.

Board members said the decision follows multi-year use of federal waiver programs and board-directed draws on the district’s food-service fund balance. Shannon (superintendent) and staff reported that the food-service fund had drawn down over several years and auditors had advised addressing a large fund balance issue.

“Of course, there's a cost to that. That got that fund balance down, to a point where it would sit. So it would be unsustainable for us,” Shannon said when explaining the change and the decision to emphasize free-and-reduced-price applications rather than maintaining universal free breakfast.

John Smith moved to approve the 2025–26 contract with Tahir and the meal-price increase; Mike seconded and the motion carried. Board documents attached to the agenda list the provider’s contract terms and the recommended motion from the Finance & Human Resources committee.

Board members said the administration will communicate with families about the end of universal breakfast and encourage eligible families to complete free-and-reduced applications. No dollar totals for the contract were provided during the meeting; the transcript records only the approved 10¢ per meal price change.

The board vote was a procedural approval of the vendor contract and pricing; staff will oversee vendor implementation and outreach to families.