District looks to balance costs vs. reimbursement
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
The cost of school lunches in the Burlington Area School District will go up 10 cents for the coming school year – more than officials anticipated.
The district’s Finance Committee recommended approval of the increase Monday.
The increase was expected to be just five cents. However, further guidance from various agencies showed a gap between lunch costs and a level set to receive federal reimbursement for free and reduced-cost lunches.
The district has to maintain a delicate balance. In order to get reimbursement for free and reduced-price lunches for students whose families qualify, the cost from BASD must fall in a certain range. However, if the district charges too much, it can end up with too much in its food service fund balance – necessitating that the district spend down that balance.
Currently improvements have been made at several schools, and a kitchen improvement project at Dyer Intermediate School is reaching conclusion. Those projects are part of a five-year plan for capital improvements.
However, with the drought likely to impact food costs, BASD Superintendent Peter Smet said the district isn’t likely going to end up with too much of a surplus.
“It’s going to even out,” Smet said. “We’re going to have an increase in our contract price.”
Lunch prices are currently $2.25 at Dyer, Karcher Middle School and Burlington High School, and $2.05 at the district’s elementary schools. Students who qualify for reduced-price lunches, receive a 40-cent discount.
For more on school lunches, including prices and menus, please visit http://www.basd.k12.wi.us/lunchcalendar.cfm.
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