Phoenix-Talent School Board approves adult meal price increase, adopts guiding principles and applies for renewable-energy grants

The Phoenix-Talent School District 4 Board of Directors approved multiple operational items at its regular meeting, including an increase in adult meal prices, adoption of revised board guiding principles and approval to apply for community renewable energy grants for district sites.

Board members voted to raise adult meal prices after a motion from the floor; the motion carried with all members voting in favor. The board then approved revised board guiding principles after discussion about keeping several bullet points separate rather than combining them. The board also adopted Resolution 25-11, authorizing grant applications to expand solar and battery capacity at district sites.

Why it matters: the meal-price change affects staff and other adults who purchase school meals, the guiding principles set the tone for board governance for the year, and the renewable-energy grants could fund solar installations and batteries that reduce long-term energy costs for district facilities.

Board action and votes The board approved the consent agenda without objection. A separate motion to approve an increase in adult meal prices passed on a roll call vote with all members voting yes. The board then approved its revised guiding principles by roll call and adopted Resolution 25-11 to apply for community renewable energy grant funding for Phoenix Elementary School and Phoenix High School (application details not specified in the meeting).

The renewable-energy motion referenced continuing district solar projects and expanding battery storage; board members thanked district staff for the work on prior solar installations and for preparing the new applications.

Background and next steps District staff told the board the renewable grant opportunity is another round of a program the district has used before for solar at elementary and middle schools; the board authorized applying for grants for PES and the high school. The meeting record did not specify award amounts, grant deadlines or procurement details; those will be determined if grant awards are offered.

The adult meal-price increase will be implemented by the district food services department; staff confirmed adults who are not district employees can be issued accounts and add funds online. The board did not specify the exact new adult meal price during the meeting packet discussion, and the motion referenced the increase “as presented” in the packet.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (unanimous, no roll call names provided in the record) - Adult meal-price increase: approved (board roll call recorded as all present voting yes) - Board guiding principles (revised): approved (roll call; board members present voted yes) - Resolution 25-11 (community renewable energy grant applications for PES and CHS): adopted (roll call; board members present voted yes)

Ending The board’s packet and staff reports will contain the formal motion language and the grant application materials; the district will return to the board with implementation details and any awarded grant terms or budget impacts for future meetings.