School lunch prices going up

With parents already tightening their belts because of rising fuel and grocery prices, another expense will be on the rise as school meals are set to increase this year.

Baker County School Board members approved a proposed meal price increase for 2008-2009 during their meeting Monday night. St. Johns County school officials have already announced their meals will also increase and their students will see a 25 percent increase in breakfast prices and pay about 12 percent more for lunch. Nassau schools will also go up 25 cents.

Duval County has also increased meal prices with elementary prices up 25 cents for breakfast and 20 cents for lunch. High school prices will now be 50 cents more for breakfast and 55 cents more for lunch, $1.25 and $2.00 respectively.

This week, the School Board approved hiking the price of student lunches by 50 cents. Come September, lunches will cost $2.00 for grades PK - 6 and $2.50 for students in grades 7 - 12.

A half-pint carton of milk will cost 60 cents, up from 50 cents, and the price of adult meals, which are not government subsidized, will jump 75 cents to $3.50, from $2.75

Breakfast prices will also increase by 50 cents. All students will now pay $1.50 for a full price breakfast and the adult cost will be $2.00. A la carte portion costs will increase as needed to cover, food, non-food and labor increases.

"The Baker County School Board meal prices have remained constant for two school years, however, our budget and expenses have increased tremendously during this time," noted Cathy B. Golon, Director of Nutrition Services.

"Food increases this next year alone will average from 5% - 40% with the highest increase in poultry, grains, vegetable, fruits and basic staples like sugar, flour, condiments, etc. We cannot get firm pricing for oils, margarine, whole wheat flour and similar items. Weekly prices are available at best."

Golon also noted that beginning this August, daily labor hours in the kitchen and district will be decreased by 42 hours. Some of these hours were already decreased in 2007-2008.

While the current price increase becomes effective, parents and students could see another price hike as early as January. Golon notes in her memo to the school board that food and supply prices have been guaranteed through December of 2008, and that another price increase for main line groceries and non-food items will most likely occur in early 2009.