Parents, students to pay more for school breakfasts and lunches

The Nye County School District will raise the price for student meals, after the Board of Trustees approved the request on April 14.

The action, which will begin in the upcoming school year, will keep the district in compliance with the federal government, which subsidizes the program.

Food Service Coordinator Jodi Martinez said each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires school districts to annually review their paid lunch revenue to assure compliance with what’s known as the paid lunch equity requirement.

Federal regulations dictate that school food authorities participating in the national school lunch program, must ensure sufficient funds are provided for meals served to students not eligible for free or reduced price meals.

“When the average paid lunch price is less than the difference between the free and the federal reimbursement amount, then we have to raise our prices,” she said. “I guess they feel if they’re giving us a certain amount, then we should be requesting that the parents must pay.”

The increase affects every grade level in the district, as the price for lunch at elementary and middle school will rise from $2.45 to $2.50.

High school lunches will increase from $2.75 to $3.00.

Martinez said adult meals, which have not changed in more than six years, will also increase from $3.00 to $3.50.

“Since I’ve been in this position, that price has never been raised,” she said. “It’s not going to be a huge amount, but I felt that we needed to raise that as well. These price increases will put us in compliance.”

Martinez also cautioned that the district may see another slight increase next year.

“If the federal government doesn’t increase it too much next year, I won’t have to raise prices because we are right there now,” she said. “I learned that we are actually still at or below a majority of the districts in the state of Nevada and the state is on a big push to increase participation for breakfast and they are requesting that we don’t raise breakfast prices.”

Following further discussion, trustees voted unanimously for the meal price increase, as mandated by the federal government.

Families that are new to the Nye County School District may qualify for free and reduced meals, provided they meet federal income guidelines by completing an application for the program.

In fiscal year 2012, more than 31.6 million children each day got their lunch through the National School Lunch Program.

Since the modern program began, more than 224 billion lunches have been served.

Parents may apply for their children’s meal benefits at any time during the school year.

For additional information call the district office at 727-7743.