Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Nutrition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Eatonville board approves $0.25 increase to paid school meals for next year
Summary
The Eatonville School Board voted to raise paid lunch and breakfast prices by $0.25 for the 2026–27 school year to satisfy federal paid-lunch equity requirements; board members said the change supports meal-quality improvements amid a persistent program deficit.
The Eatonville School Board approved a $0.25 increase to paid student lunch and breakfast prices for the 2026–27 school year after trustees said the federal paid-lunch equity tool requires a minimum increase.
"I am proposing that we increase it by 0.25," the Chair said during discussion, explaining the district has no option under the federal methodology and that the change is intended to meet a minimum required price. Board members noted the increase does not affect elementary students who currently receive free meals under existing programs.
Board members described continuing program deficits — the Chair said last year’s child-nutrition deficit was about $170,000 and this year is projected to be similar — and emphasized the increase will support efforts to improve meal quality. The district’s new food-service manager, Betsy, and consultants from ESD 113 are pursuing more scratch cooking, local procurement and inventory controls, the board said.
The motion to set meal prices for 2026–27 was moved and seconded and carried; the board recorded "Aye" and the Chair announced the motion carried. The board also asked staff to continue work on cost control and on options to remove the high school from the National School Lunch Program if feasible, which board members said could offer more menu flexibility.
