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Elkhorn board approves short‑term substitute lunch benefit pilot estimated under $10,000 annually
Summary
The board approved a pilot to offer free lunches to short‑term substitutes to help retention and recruitment; staff estimated up to about $9,000–$10,000 if universally used and will survey substitutes and report back.
The Elkhorn Area School District board on Aug. 25 approved a pilot program to offer free school lunch to short‑term substitutes as an incentive to recruit and retain substitutes.
Administrators said the program is intended as a modest perk and estimated the maximum annual cost, if every eligible substitute used it every day, at roughly $9,000 to $10,000. Board members debated whether long‑term substitutes should qualify; the board approved the benefit limited to short‑term substitute assignments and asked staff to survey substitutes and provide a follow‑up report on usage and costs.
"It's just a perk that we'd like to provide," a district representative said during the discussion, noting substitutes often cannot leave campus for food and appreciate the convenience. Some board members suggested limits or exclusions for long‑term placements so the benefit does not effectively replace base pay or create inequities.
The motion as approved specified short‑term substitutes and a trial period with data collection; staff will return with a school‑year report summarizing substitute feedback and financial impact.
What happens next: district staff will survey substitutes, track program uptake during the pilot period and present findings to the board for further action.
