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WESTFIELD – School meal prices will increase across the board by 20 cents on Aug. 29, according to Food Resources Director Rachel Kania in a report to the School Committee on Monday.
Kania said the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that full price school breakfast and lunches be gradually increased in cost until the selling price equals at least the difference between the federal reimbursement rates for free and paid lunch.
Currently, a review by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) showed that Westfield’s prices are too low, Kania said. She said the district received a waiver from corrective action to raise prices this past year, but were asked to take corrective action going forward.
DESE also recommended that the district’s increases occur over a period of time, which is why they will be raising prices 20 cents this year, and in a couple of years, another 15 or 20 cents.
Kania said the average cost to prepare a breakfast in Westfield is $1.58; and the district currently charges $1.15. For lunch, the average cost to prepare a meal is $2.30 per day. Westfield currently charges $2.30 for a lunch at the elementary school, and $2.45 for lunch in middle and high school, which she said is borderline.
“We are losing money on breakfast, and coming close to losing money on lunch,” Kania said.
What convinced Kania was looking at neighboring school districts, and what they charge for the meals. Gateway charges $1.50 for breakfast, and $2.65/$2.85 for lunch; Southwick charges $1.35 for breakfast, and $3.00/$3.25 for lunch, and Easthampton charges $1.25/$1.50 for breakfast, and $2.65/$2.85/$3.00 for lunch.
School Committee member Diane Mayhew commented that she would support the increase in the meal prices. She said since she has served on the Food Resources Committee over the last six or seven years, prices have only increased by 10 cents.
Mayhew did say that the district is already having trouble collecting money from families for meals, which concerns her.
Kania said previously the district had no policy for overdue payments for meals, but has recently implemented a collections policy.
Bo Sullivan asked about the average national increase on meal prices.
Kania said the mandate is for gradual increases. She said the federal price target for districts to charge for lunch is $3.00, which is the difference between the federal reimbursements rate for free and paid lunch. “They expect us to be there,” she said, adding, “In another two or three years we’ll have to increase again. Most schools increase five or 10 cents per year.”
Kania also said that food prices increase on average three percent per year.
Timothy O’Connor asked how the district would inform families that meal prices will be increasing. Kania said her office will send a letter. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said the district would also post the information at www.schoolsofwestfield.org.
