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York County updates school-nutrition accounting after VDOE recalculation; proposes modest meal-price increases
Summary
Staff said a VDOE change to the excess-balance calculation cut the division's calculated excess from about $981,000 to $374,000 while net cash remained roughly $2.75 million; officials proposed modest price increases (10 cents breakfast, 10 cents lunch, 15 cents milk-only) and described collection efforts for unpaid meal accounts.
The York County School Division presented an update June 8 on school-nutrition cash balances and recommended small meal-price increases for FY27.
Staff explained the Virginia Department of Education revised its excess-balance methodology in February to use average operating days (statewide set at 23) and to include one-time capital expenditures in the calculation. Division staff said net cash on hand remained about $2.75 million as of the end of April, but the VDOE's new method reduced the calculated excess balance from about $981,000 under the old method to roughly $374,000 under the new method.
The presentation reviewed a 10-year history of meal prices and noted the division has raised lunch and breakfast prices only incrementally over the past decade (about 45 cents total increase in lunch since 2016—17). Using VDOE's paid-lunch-equity tool, staff said the recommended increase would be larger ($1.15) but VDOE and division practice recommends limiting annual increases; the division proposed a 10-cent increase for breakfast, a 10-cent increase for lunch, and a 15-cent increase for milk-only purchases for 2026'7, with adult meal prices rising 10 cents for breakfast and 15 cents for lunch.
Staff provided an example of family impact: an elementary student who buys both breakfast and lunch each of 180 school days would see a total annual increase of about $36 under the proposed increases. The division noted many families have more than one student and that the division weighs affordability when timing price changes.
On outstanding meal-account balances, staff said several family accounts remain in arrears. The division sends weekly letters and personal phone calls (principals and the manager of school nutrition services, Kim Roman) when thresholds are met and works with families on payment plans; statutory limits restrict other collection options.
No vote was taken at the work session; the proposed meal-price changes appear on the consent agenda for the following special meeting for board consideration.
