Meals only fee increase for District 211
High School District 211 has a diverse student population, each with varying needs and concerns that need to be met. In an effort to keep educational costs as low as possible for families, District 211’s Board of Education approved motions to not raise standard school fees for the 2014-2015 school year. These fees have been consistent for the past eight years, with the exception of school lunch prices.
At its Jan. 16 meeting, the Board approved school fees for next school year. The textbook/instructional supply fee for the 2014-2015 school year will remain $160. The driver education behind the wheel fee for 2014-2015 will remain $350, while the student parking user fee will remain $65 per semester. The bus transportation fee for next school year for students whose residence is within 1.5 miles of school will remain $170 (there is no bus transportation fee for those students who reside beyond 1.5 miles from school).
Summer School fees will remain $140 per semester for credit courses, with the cost for invitation programs for incoming freshmen and sophomores remaining at $30. Summer School fees for noncredit physical education and activity camps will remain $70 per semester, while the fee for competitive varsity baseball and softball will remain $175 for the summer. The summer driver education fee will stay at $350, and the fee for students taking behind the wheel only will be assessed a summer fee of $70.
The only slight increase was in food service lunch prices. While the price for the standard school breakfast will remain $1.45 for students and $1.75 for adults, the school lunch rate will increase 10¢ per meal. A fourth meal tier also was added, with new price points at $2.35, $2.50, $2.65, and $2.80 per meal (including milk) for students, and $3.20 per meal (excluding beverage) for adults. Free and reduced-price rates for qualifying students will remain at 30¢ for breakfast and 40¢ for lunch (with milk).
Meal prices have increased according to guidelines established in the Healthy Hunger Free Kid’s Act of 2010. There have been significant increases in students who qualify for the free and reduced meal program and fee waivers. As District 211 is in a strong financial position, the board elected not to raise fees in order to prevent placing a financial burden on students and families who do not qualify for fee waivers.
The program, which is governed through the United States Department of Agriculture, allows the District to provide qualifying students meals at a free or reduced rate based on household income. It’s beneficial for District 211 to participate in the program because it allows every student access to a meal that is nutritionally balanced and meets strict federal requirements.
The majority of applications for the free and reduced-price meals are based on two criteria: the total household-gross income and the number of people who live in the household. Each July, the USDA releases income criteria for the free and reduced meal program, and it is based on the United States poverty level.
Currently, a family of four would have to make less than $43,568 gross annual income to qualify for reduced meals; which is 185 percent of the Federal poverty level. Free meal benefits also are available and income guidelines must fall below 130 percent of the poverty level, or be less than $30,615 annually for a family of four.
Over the past 10 years, District 211 has seen an increase of 161 percent in the number of students who qualify for the program. In 2003, the district had roughly 8 percent of its student population receiving free or reduced lunch. The current qualifying student population is more than 30 percent. The increase in enrollment in the program isn’t unique to District 211 schools, but schools all over the region.
For a more detailed look at school fees for the upcoming academic year, please visit the District 211 BoardDocs website .
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