School Meal Price Increases Will Result in More Free Meals, Healthier Food

The board approved school meal prices 50 cents over the next two years at Wednesday night’s board meeting as part of a state mandated program.

The district had been charging $1.75 cents for lunch and 75 cents for breakfast, the lowest prices in San Mateo County that haven’t seen price increases in nine years. The cost of each meal will increase by 50 cents in the 2011-12 school year and 25 cents each of the next two school years.

“It’s a bargain over here in Redwood City,” said Board President Alisa MacAvoy. Lunch prices in neighboring cities like San Carlos can cost up to $4.85.

President Obama’s Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act now requires schools to charge the uniform federal reimbursement rate, or $2.74 for lunch and $1.76 for breakfast, in order to be reimbursed. This would achieve equity in school lunch pricing, the law notes.

With this price increase, students who qualify for free lunch will still get free lunch, and those who qualify for reduced lunch will get free lunches.

The additional revenue will purchase salad bars for every school in the district, a $110,000 ongoing cost. Chief Business Official Raul Parungao said the district will try to use existing staff so as not to increase labor costs.

More freshly prepared, hand-made food and less microwaved items could also be on the menu.