District reviews food‑service bids and proposes 10¢ minimum student lunch increase

District staff told the board they received bids for food‑service contracts and recommended a modest increase to student lunch prices to meet minimum costing requirements.

The administration said two companies submitted bids for the food contract categories in question (Prairie Farms and Diversified Foods), and that bakery items were bid by Flowers Baking Company and Bimbo Bakeries; current vendors listed in the packet include Gold Star and US Foods. Staff provided samples from two companies so the board could compare quality and said they advertise bids in the local paper and on the district website.

A staff member explained a calculator used to estimate minimum charged prices so that paid‑lunch revenues do not rely on reimbursements intended for free and reduced meals. "Our calculator came up just a little higher than that, but it will be our recommendation that we go with a minimum 10¢ increase," the presenter said. The recommendation proposed student lunch prices for 2025–26 of $3.55 for kindergarten through fifth grade and $3.60 for sixth through 12th grades; breakfast prices were proposed to remain the same.

Board members asked about the small number of vendors who responded and whether moving to a single vendor would affect service; staff said they notify known vendors and post bids publicly but had limited responses this cycle. No final vendor award or pricing vote is recorded in the provided transcript.

Separately, staff briefed the board on budget timing and revenue: a final fiscal‑year payment was expected on June 20 and federal reimbursements for grants (for example, a paint‑booth grant) are received after completion; staff also noted insurance reimbursements are expected to cover storm‑damaged items. Those budget timing issues inform whether new contracts and price changes will be finalized before the fiscal year closes.