Board approves 20¢ meal-price increase; child nutrition director and finance staff explain fund and free/reduced process

The Grand Forks School Board approved a 20¢ increase to elementary breakfast and lunch, secondary breakfast and lunch, and adult breakfast to help preserve the fiscal health of the district’s child nutrition fund (Fund 50).

Administrators presented a packet showing Fund 50 has remained healthy but that meal prices had not been raised since the 2018 school year. Finance staff told the board that because food costs have increased, the district recommends an incremental 20¢ increase for the listed meal categories. The packet also included an annualized impact table showing $17.40 as the approximate annual cost increase for a paying student.

“Mister Baumbach” (finance staff) told the board that Fund 50 is “completely separate from the general operations” and that revenues, reimbursements and family payments flow into that fund; the fund pays for food and labor. Director Wendy Manky described operational steps the nutrition department is taking, including pushing online applications for the free and reduced-price program and continuing to serve meals regardless of a family’s outstanding balance.

Board members asked whether the district would still rank lowest in the state after the increase; administrators said packet tables show Grand Forks would remain among the lowest meal-price districts in the state even after a 20¢ increase. Board members also commended the child nutrition staff for maintaining a healthy fund balance without drawing on the general fund.

The motion to increase the listed meal prices by 20¢ carried by recorded roll-call vote (9–0). Administrators said the increase is intended as a modest adjustment meant to keep pace with food price increases and to protect Fund 50’s ability to cover labor and capital needs (for example, ovens and hot boxes).

Free and reduced-price applications

Director Wendy Manky said the district is encouraging families to apply online this year for free and reduced-price benefits to speed processing and reduce missing information. She noted the program is income based and that, even if families do not think they qualify, they should still apply because thresholds and rules have changed at the state level; staff stressed the application process is anonymous at the point of sale.

Administrators and the board noted that while the meal program has a healthy balance now, Fund 50 expenses can vary year to year (for example, equipment replacement or changes in family payment patterns), which supports taking a small, early increase rather than larger, later increases.

No additional formal board direction beyond implementing the price change was recorded in the motion.