Lumberton ISD accepts $100,000 nutrition grant and approves student meal price increases

The Lumberton Independent School District Board of Trustees on July 9 accepted a $100,000 School Nutrition Foundation grant for its Child Nutrition program and approved a package of policy and price changes for school meals effective for the 2026–27 school year.

Superintendent Dr. John Mathews listed the grant among district highlights. Later in the meeting, Trustee Kimberly Olexa moved to approve a revised Child Nutrition Student Meal Charge Policy “to ensure compliance with federal requirements and provide clear, consistent procedures for managing student meal accounts,” and Trustee Kenny Burkhalter seconded; the motion passed 6–0. The board also approved a separate motion, moved by Trustee Margaret Cruse and seconded by Trustee Kenny Burkhalter, to raise student meal prices to meet USDA/TDA Paid Lunch Equity requirements and support Child Nutrition fund stability. The board approved the increases 6–0.

Approved price changes for 2026–27 are: Early Childhood and Primary (PK–2) breakfast from $2.00 to $2.25 and lunch from $3.75 to $4.00; Intermediate through High School (3–12) breakfast from $2.25 to $2.50 and lunch from $4.00 to $4.25. The motion to approve the price schedule was recorded as passed without dissent.

The board’s actions included both the procedural update to how unpaid meal accounts are handled and the revenue adjustments needed to align with state and federal paid-lunch equity requirements. No public commenters appeared on the item during the meeting and board members voted unanimously on both the policy revision and the price changes.