School lunch prices could rise in Waynesboro Area School District

Student lunch prices in the Waynesboro Area School District could increase 20 cents in the 2011-12 academic year if the school board agrees with a proposal presented to it Tuesday.

Student lunch prices would be $2 for elementary schools and $2.15 for secondary schools, compared to the current $1.80 and $1.95, respectively. Breakfast would remain $1 for elementary students and $1.10 for secondary students.

The school board talked about the proposal at its meeting Tuesday, but asked for more information before voting. Board members asked Food Director Mike Embly several questions.

"Are you still operating in the black?" school board member K. Marilyn Smith asked.

"Yes," Embly said.

"Food is not a money-maker. If we're feeding these kids who might not get it at home, we should do it as cheaply as we can," Smith said.

Embly agreed and said that was a big reason why he wanted to maintain breakfast prices at their current level.

"Breakfast, I feel, is the most important meal of the day," he said.

Board member Chris Lind suggested slight increases would temper larger ones later when retirement contributions go up and new federal regulations potentially make meals more costly.

Embly said he's concerned more students will bring lunch from home if the federal regulations are approved as proposed.

"We have to start working now to what we see those regulations being. ... They've almost gone overboard," he said.

If lunch prices are increased 20 cents, Embly said it would cost families an additional $35.40 a year for a student who eats cafeteria food every day.

Lunch prices have not increased in three years, according to Embly.

 

School lunch prices

Waynesboro

2010-11

Breakfast elementary $1

Breakfast secondary $1.10

Lunch elementary $1.80

Lunch secondary $1.95

2011-12 (proposed)

Breakfast elementary $1

Breakfast secondary $1.10

Lunch elementary $2

Lunch secondary $2.15



Greencastle-Antrim

2010-11

Breakfast elementary N/A

Breakfast secondary N/A

Lunch elementary $1.70

Lunch secondary $2

2011-12 (proposed)

Breakfast elementary N/A

Breakfast secondary N/A

Lunch elementary $1.80

Lunch secondary $2.10



Chambersburg

2010-11

Breakfast elementary $1.30

Breakfast secondary $1.40

Lunch elementary $2.10

Lunch secondary $2.25

2011-12 (proposed)

Breakfast elementary $1.40

Breakfast secondary $1.50

Lunch elementary $2.20

Lunch secondary $2.35

Source: Waynesboro Area School District