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Beatrice schools raise meal prices 10¢ as nutrition fund nears strain; CEP not available
Summary
The board approved a 10¢ increase to breakfast and lunch prices for 2025–26 after USDA PLE-tool calculations showed the district must keep its nutrition fund in the black; donations offset some costs but staff reported a roughly $10,000 shortfall and noted the district’s schools do not qualify for USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
Beatrice Public Schools on June 9 approved a 10¢ increase to breakfast and lunch prices for the 2025–26 school year after staff said calculations using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s paid-lunch-equity (PLE) tool showed the district needs the increase to maintain a positive balance in its nutrition services fund.
Dr. Nielsen (identified in the meeting as the presenter on nutrition pricing) told the board the district’s current average paid price is $4.01 and that, without incremental increases, the program could face larger, sharper increases in future years. The presenter said milk prices and free/reduced-price levels for qualifying students would remain unchanged.
Board members were told the district has received about $3,200 in donations toward the lunch program but that a $10,000 shortfall remains in the current-year projection if prices were not increased; staff said that would leave a remaining gap of roughly $6,800 after existing donations. Staff also reported that none of the district’s schools qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP); the elementary school was reported at about 39% direct-certified while 65% of elementary families had completed forms to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
A board member asked whether the district could rely on donations; the presenter said donations help but are not sufficient to close the shortfall. The board approved the 10¢ increase with no recorded dissent. Staff said implementation includes updating point-of-sale pricing and parent communications ahead of the 2025–26 school year.
