School Officials Propose Increasing Meal Prices, Cutting Employee Work Year

Poway Unified school officials are proposing to raise meal prices between 17 and 33 percent starting this summer to cover higher associated costs, with the largest price jump set for middle and high school lunch.

The proposal is up for a vote at Monday night's 6 p.m. board meeting at the district office, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego. Also on the agenda are a proposal to cut classified (nonteaching) employees' work year by eight days; a resolution to support putting ; and approval of the second interim budget report.

The request to increase the charges for school breakfast and lunch comes after six years of flat prices amid "significant" rises in food, labor, rent, supplies and miscellaneous costs, according to a staff report on the agenda (Item D-302). The 13.6 percent of students receiving free or reduced price meals would not see a price increase. Reduced meals cost 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch, compared to $1.25-$1.75 for breakfast for others; and $2-$3 for lunch.

The regular rates would rise to between $1.50 and $2.25 for breakfast, and $2.50-$3.50 for lunch. Secondary lunches would see the largest price increase of 75 cents to $3. The increase is needed to keep the mostly self-sustained meal program financially solvent, according to the staff report. The report does not say how much costs have risen or how much more revenue the increased prices are expected to generate. It does note that several other districts, not including San Diego Unified, have increased or are proposing to increase meal prices in the coming school year. Current PUSD prices are about the same as those in other districts.

Along with the meal price increase, officials are scheduled to ask the board for an eight-day cut to the work year for classified, or nonteaching, employees for a corresponding 3.1-3.7 percent salary reduction. Other employee groups, such as the teachers, already have agreed to the reduction and have sustained a 4.3 percent salary reduction for the current school year. Classified employees have yet to settle a new contract with the district since their last one expired in June. That contract remains in effect.

District officials have said the contract allows them to cut classified employees' days and salary without union negotiation. Union leaders disagree and have called for members to come to Monday's meeting as a show of solidarity.

The unsettled contract with the Poway School Employees Association is noted on the district's second interim report, which also mentions changes in expected revenue since the first interim and unrestricted deficit spending beyond the standard in the current or subsequent two years.

District officials hope tax extensions included in will stave off future cuts to education. To that end, the agenda includes a resolution supporting Brown's push to put a series of tax extensions before voters in June. PUSD has cut just under $59 million over the past three years, according to the resolution.

Even if the extensions do not pass, and the district faces an additional $11 million cut next year, .

PUSD School Lunch Prices

*Special meals are those typically served around holidays.