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Wake County board approves 25¢ hike to school breakfast and lunch prices
Summary
The Wake County Board of Education voted to raise student meal prices 25¢ for both breakfast and lunch for 2025–26, citing rising operating costs for the district’s child nutrition services and low program reserves. The board and staff emphasized outreach and revenue strategies to limit drops in participation.
The Wake County Board of Education approved a 25-cent increase to both school breakfast and lunch prices for the 2025–26 school year after discussion about operating shortfalls in the district’s child nutrition services.
Board members voted on the recommendation presented by Tiffany Lawrence, the district’s child nutrition director, who told the board staff had proposed the increase following two prior work sessions. Board members said the increase is intended to shore up a program that is designed to operate on revenues that roughly match its costs.
Why it matters: Lawrence and board members said the child nutrition program is an “enterprise” operation that must cover its own payroll and food costs. Board finance staff warned the program’s two-month reserve has dropped to less than one month and could reach zero without additional revenue. Board members described the decision as difficult and related it to rising local living costs for school nutrition staff.
Board debate and public input: Several public commenters addressed school meals before the vote. Jeanette Hill, an assistant principal at Apex High School and a member of the School Meals for All North Carolina Coalition, urged the board not to raise prices and recommended program changes to increase participation, including expanding “second‑chance” breakfast and pursuing local partnerships to lower food costs. Hill said, “Anytime you raise the price of school meals, school meal participation rates go down.”
Student presenters at the start of public comment also highlighted local, student‑run solutions. Panchal Aaron and Swiram Shah described the Global Scholars Alliance, a student nonprofit that has raised funds and proposed a low‑cost volunteer tutoring program that would direct proceeds to the Wake County Angel Fund to help cover student meal costs. Aaron said the group’s “mission is to feed futures 1 meal at a time.”
Board members asked staff how a price increase could affect participation. Lawrence said past Wake County data indicate participation may decline but that revenue projections still support the increase overall. Board members urged stronger marketing, menu changes, and new revenue sources — including expanded community partnerships and event sales — to boost participation and program income.
Board context and finance discussion: Board member Rachel Edmonds framed the vote in a broader policy context, urging state and federal action to fund universal school meals and stressing that local and state budget choices affect district decisions. Board members also cited federal reimbursement rates and the county’s high cost of living as factors that increase local program expenses and staff wages.
Vote: The motion to accept the staff recommendation passed without recorded opposition.
What’s next: Staff committed to an outreach and marketing plan, additional menu work, and reports back to the board on participation and revenue. Superintendent Robert Taylor and board members asked staff to continue seeking community partnerships and federal advocacy to reduce future local price pressure.
