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Board approves student meal price increase to $5 as lunch program runs a $167,000 year‑to‑date shortfall
Summary
After extended discussion about vendor cost increases and program deficits, the board voted unanimously to raise the paid student lunch price from $4.50 to $5.00 for the coming year; staff will re-evaluate the program annually and review cost/reimbursement projections.
The Westchester SD 92-5 Board of Education voted unanimously at its May meeting to increase the paid student lunch price to $5.00 for the coming school year.
District food-service staff presented detailed budget figures and said vendor contract pricing and the cost of meal components have risen. Staff reported a year‑to‑date gap of approximately $167,000 in the lunch program as of April 30 and projected the actual cost to the district to serve a meal next year at about $4.88 per meal. "We're asking for $5," the food‑service presenter said, explaining that the requested increase is intended to pass along the true cost of food to families while the district continues to cover labor costs and seeks to avoid making lunch a revenue source.
Board members discussed alternatives including smaller incremental increases (quarter‑point increases), potential reductions in district expenditures elsewhere, and the possible impact on families who pay for lunch. Staff noted federal reimbursement rules, the district’s Paid Lunch Equity reporting, and the community eligibility provision (CEP) (staff said the district does not currently qualify). Board members asked whether an increase would push families to bring lunches rather than buy them; staff said that is possible but that the district must also address vendor cost increases and the program deficit.
Outcome
The board voted 7–0 to raise the paid lunch price from $4.50 to $5.00 beginning in the next school year. Staff said they will rerun the analysis at the end of the year and return with updated projections and a plan for communicating changes to families. The district will continue to cover labor costs associated with meal service and to pursue any applicable reimbursements.
Numbers cited in the meeting
- Bills and claims discussed elsewhere in the meeting: $490,811.16. - Payroll discussed: $1,133,551.62. - Lunch-program year‑to‑date gap (April 30 snapshot): ~$167,000. - Projected district cost per meal (staff projection for next year): ~$4.88; proposed paid price: $5.00.
The board’s action followed a lengthy staff presentation and trustee Q&A about both operational and equity impacts.
