Expect to pay more for school lunches
TRAVERSE CITY -- You probably remembered to get the pencils, crayons, and protractors ready for your kids to take back to school, but you may be forgetting one important thing, more money for school lunches.
As more students qualify for free and reduced lunch programs, the Federal Government is asking school districts to help cover the cost. That means higher school lunch prices for everyone else.
School districts that charge less than $2.46 per meal must raise prices by at least a nickel this year and keep slightly increasing each year until it reaches that price.
Thursday Benzie Central High School was feeding 500 children including area football teams who were practicing. This lunch was free, but when the line changes to the cafeteria and school starts, kids will have to have more money in their pocket.
Food and Beverage Service Manager, Renee DeWint says, "A lot of families that we deal with might quality on paper for free and reduced lunches, but they are hurting economically. That is why I felt bad increasing the price."
The Benzie Public School Board voted to increase school lunches by five cents this year. Petoskey Public Schools decided to charge elementary students $1.90, up five cents from last year. The district's middle schoolers will also have to bring an extra five cents to buy lunch, and high schoolers in Petoskey are looking at a fifteen cent increase.
Part of the guideline also requires school cafeterias to set new nutritional guidelines this year including reducing the amount of sodium and saturated fat.
