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Board approves summer meal program, vendor renewals and modest student meal-price increases
Summary
Trustees approved the district’s USDA-reimbursed summer meal program at 13 county sites, renewed participation in a statewide food cooperative, and adopted modest increases for paid meal lines; administrators said the summer program served nearly 40,000 meals last year.
The Huntington Co Com Sch Corp board voted May 26 to continue the district’s summer food service program, renew cooperative vendor contracts and raise certain paid meal prices for 2026–27.
Food-services director Mr. Burgess told the board the summer program will operate at 13 locations — including summer-school sites, local parks, the YMCA and community partners — and that federal USDA summer-reimbursement funds cover food, labor and supplies so no additional district funding is required. “Last summer, we served nearly 40,000 meals to children in our community,” Burgess said.
The board approved the summer food-service operation and related staff holiday pay for July 4th (motion passed 6–0). The board also renewed participation in the Food to School purchasing cooperative for 2026–27, which combines purchasing across districts to secure better pricing and vendor stability; that motion passed 6–0.
On meal prices, Burgess recommended modest increases for paid student and adult meals while keeping reduced-price categories and milk pricing stable. The board approved the proposed rates. As presented in the meeting packet, the price schedule included milk at $0.50, student breakfast at $1.75, reduced-price breakfast at $0.30, elementary student lunches at $2.55 and middle/high school lunches listed in the meeting transcript as $35; district staff materials and minutes should be consulted to confirm the stated middle/high price (audit flags a likely transcription error). Burgess said the recommendations aim to follow Indiana Department of Education guidance while remaining below the state’s recommended weighted average meal-price target and to address ongoing cost pressures in food, labor and equipment.
Board members asked why some past summer meal sites were not on this year’s list; Burgess said manpower and volunteer shortages, and low average daily participation at certain sites, drove the change.
Why it matters: The summer program maintains free meal access for children 18 and under during non-school months, a continuity considered critical for food-insecure families. The cooperative and price adjustments are intended to stabilize operations amid rising costs.
Next steps: District staff will proceed with the summer program, vendor renewals and updated pricing for 2026–27 and confirm final printed meal-price materials for parent distribution.
