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Board approves adult meal price increase; district cites Oregon Department of Education nonprogram revenue requirement
Summary
The board approved raising adult breakfast from $3.50 to $4.00 and adult lunch from $4.50 to $5.00 (drinks additional), after nutrition services said ODE requires a 25% nonprogram margin and the current pricing left the program short.
The Newberg School District 29J Board of Directors on Jan. 14 approved a proposed increase in adult meal prices for the district’s nutrition services program.
Nutrition services manager Tina presented the proposal, saying breakfast would increase from $3.50 to $4.00 and lunch from $4.50 to $5.00; she added that milk or juice would be charged separately at 75 cents. Tina told the board the proposed change is needed to meet Oregon Department of Education (ODE) guidance requiring an adequate nonprogram revenue margin; the district’s nonprogram foods (adult meals, seconds and à la carte items) were short of the required margin.
Why it matters: ODE requires school nutrition programs to cover nonprogram food costs at a target margin; failure to meet that requirement can trigger corrective action. Staff told the board they did not intend to raise student second-meal prices and noted that the primary adult purchasers are staff members.
Discussion and vote: Board members asked who purchases most adult meals; staff estimated about 99% are school staff. One director said the increase posed an added cost to employees but noted the price remains lower than off-campus options. The board approved the increase unanimously.
Ending: The change takes effect per district procedures for pricing updates; nutrition services will implement new pricing and continue monitoring compliance with ODE requirements.
