Palatine District 15 hikes lunch prices by 10 cents

The price of a school lunch in Palatine Township District 15 will increase by 10 cents for the 2016-17 school year due to requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, district officials announced Thursday.

The act requires schools to increase pricing annually to minimize the difference between the cost of a paid lunch and the federal reimbursement received for a free lunch for those who qualify.

The cost of a lunch at an elementary school will rise from $2.40 to $2.50. For a junior high lunch, the increase takes lunches from $2.50 to $2.60 apiece.

"School meals are a great bargain, serving students healthy whole grains, trans-fat free items, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a selection of entrees daily," Bobbie Desprat, District 15's school nutrition services director, said in a statement on the school's website.