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District staff report 25¢ lunch-price increase for 2026, $17,000 prior-year write-off; sports-medicine contract corrected
Summary
School business staff told the Township of Ocean School District Board the recommended student-lunch price increase for 2026 is 25 cents, that staff wrote off about $17,000 in unpaid lunch balances from the prior year, and that a sports-medicine contract contained a template error the vendor was asked to correct.
School business administrator Mike Hastings updated the Township of Ocean School District Board of Education on financial matters including student-lunch pricing, unpaid balances and a contract template error for the district’s athletic sports-medicine provider.
Hastings said the district will increase student lunch prices by 25 cents for the 2026 year. "So this is a 25¢ increase for the 2026 year," he said. He also reported the district's weighted average lunch price is $4.01 and that a recommended price using the state tool was about $3.76; "based on these prices, that'll put our weighted average at $3.75," according to the transcript.
On unpaid lunch balances, Hastings said staff recorded unpaid balances as of June 30 of the prior year and that the district wrote off about $17,000 from the previous year. "Last year, we wrote off about, $17,000 from the prior year," he said. Hastings emphasized the district's practice is to provide meals regardless of balances and to "zero them out" going into the new school year for clarity to families. He added that at the high-school level staff may remind students of obligations before some purchases; the district does not turn students away for meals.
Board members asked clarifying questions. Board member Mrs. Stance asked how the new pricing compares to last year; Hastings answered the 25-cent increase follows two years of stable prices. Board member Mrs. McGovern pressed on whether negative lunch balances carry forward; Hastings said the district logs balances at June 30 but starts accounts at zero going forward to avoid confusing families.
Separately, board member Miss Kim flagged that the sports-medicine contract packet contained a template signature line referencing "San Jose School District." Hastings said the district asked the vendor to send a corrected version. "So we asked them to send us a corrected version," Hastings said.
The transcript records discussion and clarifying answers but does not record a formal vote on pricing or formal adoption of the corrected contract during the meeting.
