Federal Law Forces Hudson to Raise School Lunch Prices

Some Hudson parents will have to shell out an extra dime for their kid's school lunch this year.

The Board of Education voted to increase school lunch prices 10 cents at its July 10 meeting held at River Crest Elementary School mostly due to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Next school year, elementary student lunches will $1.85 while middle school and high school lunches will cost $2.05. High school breakfast will cost $1.10. Adult prices also are going up 10 cents — $2.95 for adult lunch and $1.60 for adult breakfast.

There will be no change to the price of milk — $0.35 — and elementary snack break — $0.50.

Hudson School District Financial Services Director Tim Erickson explained the reasons for the price increases to the Board of Education before it voted.

"It's a paid lunch equity rule," Erickson said. "What is being required of districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program is that they bring an adjustment to paid lunch prices so that there isn't a perceived or supplementation of fully paid prices for lunch."

Erickson told the board that the rule will force the district to gradually increase prices until they reach the federal reimbursment rate, which now stands at $2.51.

Erickson pointed to additional factors that prompt the district to raise prices, including the new federal mandate requiring students to take a fruit or vegetable, increases to food costs and increases to fuel surcharges on food deliveries.

Erickson also pointed out to the board members that even after the increase, the district's lunch prices remain below the average prices for schools in Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA) Number 11.