Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Nutrition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Food-service director recommends 10¢ lunch price increase for next school year
Summary
Avon Grove food‑service director proposed a 10¢ increase to student lunch prices for FY25–26 to comply with Paid Lunch Equity guidance once state forms are released; current prices remain competitive in region.
Beth Julian, the district’s food‑service director, recommended a 10¢ increase in student lunch prices for the next school year as a placeholder while the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Paid Lunch Equity form remains pending from USDA/state guidance.
Julian told the operations committee that, based on last year’s form and current cost pressures (wage and benefit increases and higher disposable/supply costs), a 10¢ increase would be “a pretty fair number” and would keep Avon Grove “in the middle of the pack” compared with peer districts. Current prices cited were $3.30 at the high school, $2.80 at the middle school and $2.70 at the elementary level; the proposed 10¢ would apply beginning next school year.
Julian said the district has not yet received the official PDE paid‑lunch‑equity form and has reached out to the agency; when the form is released staff will update calculations. She also confirmed the FY25–26 budget has been prepared anticipating the increase and that the change would not affect the district’s Northland budget.
Why it matters: paid‑lunch‑equity guidance affects how much paid lunches must offset federal reimbursement structures; small price increases are common when supply and labor costs rise.
Next steps: the committee signaled support for placing the 10¢ increase on the board legislative agenda at the end of the month (or June 5) and requested staff present the final PDE calculation if and when the state form is released before the board vote.
