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Board approves 25¢ meal-price increase for three Groton schools and advances charging policy
Summary
Groton board approved a 25¢ increase for breakfast and lunch at three non-CEP schools and advanced a food-service charging policy on first reading; staff said unpaid meal balances total about $168,000 and described payment/notification options.
The Groton board approved a 25¢ increase for breakfast and and 25¢ for lunch at three non-CEP schools and advanced a first reading of a food-service charging policy intended to clarify emergency charging and repayment expectations.
Ernie, the food-service lead, said the district did not raise prices last year and proposed a modest 25¢ increase to align with a USDA price calculator and to reduce unpaid balances. "We had to raise our price by 25¢… we probably will not have to do a price increase next year," he said, noting the increase affects schools that are not covered by community eligibility provisions. The motion to increase meal prices passed (8 in favor, 1 opposed).
During the first reading of policy P3542.43, staff reported an unpaid meal balance around $168,000 and described online payment tools, automatic low-balance alerts for parents, and options to pay at central office or cafeterias. Board members asked for clearer policy wording (for example, replacing the phrase "charging is intended to be for emergency purposes only" with language about negative balances and repayment). The board approved the policy on first reading (6 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstain); staff said they will return with edited language.
