Board approves food service agreement, meal-price increase, property transfer and small special-education grant

The MSD Southwest Allen County Schools board voted to approve several operational items Tuesday, including the districtfood service procurement for 2026–27, a $0.25 increase in student meal prices, acceptance of a property transfer needed for a proposed library ground lease, and a small special-education grant.

Dr. St. John introduced the food service agreement as the annual procurement necessary to operate the school nutrition program in compliance with state and federal rules; the motion to approve passed by voice vote.

On student meal pricing, Dr. St. John said the food service fund has averaged an annual decline of about $302,000 over the last four years and estimated the proposed 25-cent increase would generate "just over a $130,000" in additional revenue to help close part of the gap. Trustees approved the pricing by voice vote.

The board also adopted a resolution authorizing the transfer of fee-simple interest in the one-room schoolhouse and adjacent vacant property from the building corporation to the school corporation, a step staff said is necessary to proceed with the proposed ground lease to the Allen County Public Library. That resolution passed by voice vote.

Finally, the board approved acceptance of a $8,754.53 grant from the Indiana Department of Education Office of Special Education to support professional development and IEP review work; trustees discussed the pilot nature of the grant and the district's plan for initial implementation and approved it by voice vote.

None of these items included a roll-call tally in the transcript; each was approved by voice vote.