School committee approves 15¢ increase to student meal prices for 2025–26

The South Kingstown School Committee voted to raise school meal prices by 15¢ across the board for school year 2025–26 as part of the district's annual contract renewal with Chartwells, the district's food‑services vendor.

Officials said meal prices had not increased since April 2020 and that the proposed 15¢ increase would shrink a projected food‑service deficit. The administration reported that keeping prices unchanged would produce a projected loss of about $21,000; the proposed 15¢ increase would reduce that projected shortfall to about $4,800. Committee members were told the food service fund currently has roughly $236,000 in fund balance from prior surpluses.

Patrick (district staff) said the recommended change follows the contract template used by the Rhode Island Department of Education and that the district will submit the draft agreement to RIDE for approval. The presentation included current prices and the proposal: elementary and secondary breakfast are currently $1.25 and would rise by 15¢; elementary lunch is $2.80 and secondary lunch (middle and high school) is $2.90 and would each increase by 15¢.

The administration also reviewed federal reimbursement figures the district expects: proposed breakfast reimbursement for free students $2.44; lunch reimbursement for free or reduced students $4.66; reimbursement for full‑price paid meals is smaller (53¢ for lunch), meaning meal‑service revenue mixes and a la carte sales affect the fund balance. The administration noted Chartwells will cover a portion of any deficit up to its management fee per the management agreement; any excess deficit would come from the food service fund balance or require a general‑fund transfer.

A motion to approve the proposed school lunch price increases for school year 2025–26 passed without an expanded roll call in the meeting transcript; the committee chair announced "Aye" and the motion passed.