U-46 hiking lunch prices 30 cents

Elgin Area School District U-46 will increase lunch prices by 30 cents for the upcoming school year, 10 cents more than the increase recommended in April.

A number of factors, including a recent surge in food and fuel costs, played into the decision for the increase, district Executive Director of Operations Jeff King told the school board Monday night.

The district has spent 37 percent more on fuel than it did during the 2006-2007 school year, King said.

The price of food itself has increased 8 percent to 10 percent, he said.

Surveying other area districts, King said lunch prices are between $1.75 and $3.10. U-46 will now charge $2.40.

Community Unit District 300 may raise the cost of its paid lunch from $2 to $2.50. If approved, the increase would put the price of District 300's paid lunch a hair above that of U-46. Huntley Unit District 158 charges $1.75.

On April 14, after hearing that a 20-cent increase would not afford needed replacements of kitchen equipment, the U-46 board sent King and Chief Financial Officer John Prince back to re-examine a larger increase.

Monday, Prince called the 30 cent increase "comfortable."

The district's food services department is looking at a number of ways to make itself more efficient, including consolidating delivery trips, Prince said.

Still, the current increase may not be enough to stave off another price increase in 2009-2010, Prince said. "If we continue to see single- to double-digit increases in food prices, we'll have to look at it again next year," he said.

According to federal guidelines, a family of four with an annual household income of $27,560 qualified for free lunch during the 2008-2009 school year.

Federal guidelines state children of a family of four with an annual household income of $39,220 or less qualify for reduced-price meals.

U-46 parents or guardians whose income qualifies their children for free or reduced-price lunches should complete the form sent to all homes and return it to their children's school.

Additional copies of the application form are available at the principal's office in each school or at the Food and Nutrition Services Office, 355 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.

Last August the school board approved a 10-cent lunch price increase from $2 to $2.10.