Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Meal Pricing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees approve modest lunch and breakfast price increases to narrow budget gap
Summary
KUNA JOINT DISTRICT trustees voted unanimously to raise student lunch and breakfast prices for 2025-26 to help cover higher costs as the district expands scratch‑cooking; trustees heard federal reimbursement figures and a menu participation update before voting.
KUNA JOINT DISTRICT trustees voted to raise student meal prices for the 2025-26 school year after a presentation from Manager Swanson about program costs and participation.
Swanson told trustees the district has increased scratch‑cooking since the pandemic and now makes most breakfasts and many elementary lunches from scratch, which raises food and labor costs. She presented proposed price changes: elementary lunch to $3.55, standard secondary lunch to $4.10 and a $0.25 increase for premium secondary meals; breakfast would rise to $2.45. Adult prices were proposed to remain unchanged this year.
Swanson said federal reimbursement for free meals is $4.60 and that the program’s weighted average meal revenue has been below the full federal target; she described the price adjustments as part of an effort to close that gap. She also said the district will buy hamburger product from “CSB Packers,” which she said keeps money in the local supply chain.
A trustee moved to adopt the proposed pricing; a second followed. Trustees recorded aye votes: Kirsty, Michael, JD, Hillary and the board chair, resulting in a unanimous approval.
Trustees and staff discussed participation trends, prior unpaid meal balances (Swanson reported the uncollected balance had been reduced to just over $19,000), and menu items that have driven student purchases, such as premium meals at the high school. No further changes were directed at the meeting.
