Gilmer Schools Consider Lunch Price Increases

Officials will vote on proposed lunch price increases at tomorrow’s Board of Education meeting. FYN was on hand as Linda Waters, Director of Food Services, reported on the proposed increases at last week’s workshop.As Mrs. Waters explained, the Food Services division of the Gilmer Department of Education is financially self-sustaining. In order for the department to make ends meet, and to meet requirements for federal student meal funds, meal prices must be increased.

The Food Services department will be proposing a 10-cent increase on lunch prices for pre-K through 6th grade, and a $1.85 lunch price for both middle and high schools. No increases for breakfast prices are planned.

These increases mean full-price student lunches for elementary students will go from $1.45 to $1.55; for middle school students, $1.65 to $1.85; and for high school students, $1.75 to $1.85.

In addition to raising lunch prices, the Food Services department is tackling its budget challenges by being more aggressive in collecting unpaid meal charges. Unpaid meals at Gilmer High School alone currently add up to about $7,000.

Though the department will come in under budget this year, Mrs. Waters expects the next year to bring lower costs and increased revenue. The closing of pre-K and Headstart programs, along with the closing of Oakland Elementary, should make the food service program more efficient.

Video of Mrs. Waters’ presentation: