District proposes no change to most student fees; meal prices to rise 5 cents under administrator plan

West Bend Joint School District No. 1 administrators presented the proposed 2025–26 student fee schedule and recommended a modest increase in school meal prices.

Assistant Superintendent Lenny Hansen told the board the proposed student and course fees are unchanged from the prior year; the district plans to present the fee schedule for approval at a future meeting. Hansen said many fees are vendor-driven (for example, College Board AP exam fees) and that families with financial need should complete the free/reduced lunch application and the district’s fee-waiver form to request assistance. "All of that information is confidential," Hansen said, emphasizing privacy protections and the district’s encouragement for families to complete eligibility forms because such data also supports district funding calculations.

School nutrition staff recommended a 5¢ increase to meal prices for 2025–26, citing USDA and DPI suggested pricing guidance and the need to keep the food-service fund balanced after pandemic-era revenue shifts. The administration said its proposed price still falls roughly a dollar below a USDA-derived maximum and that the district continues to operate the food service program as a self-funded enterprise; reserves built during the pandemic have been used for equipment upgrades and to smooth the transition back to normal operations.

Board members asked about reserves, grant funding for certifications and the fee-waiver process. Hansen reiterated that fee waivers follow a two-step process (free/reduced lunch application followed by a fee-waiver application) and encouraged families to apply. The meal price recommendation will be brought to the board as an action item at a future meeting.