The Stevensville School District will be increasing meal prices for all regular priced meals by .25 cents for the 2017-18 school year. The increase is required by the USDA to align with pricing guideline requirements for schools participating in the federal free and reduced meal program.
Federal regulations require that the average meal price for full cost meals meet or exceed the reimbursement provided through the USDA. In a recent audit of the program, it was noted that the Stevensville School District has not been charging enough for full cost meals to meet this requirement. School meal rates will increase to $2.25 for K-5 students, $2.50 for 6-12 grade students, and $3.00 for adults.
Dr. Robert Moore, superintendent, said he and the Board of Trustees were disappointed in the audit finding and the required increase.
“It seems like we are being penalized for running an excellent food service program,” said Dr. Moore. “Food Service Manager Paula Johnson and our cooks run an efficient program with excellent food at a great price.”
Greg Trangmore, Board of Trustees chairman, said of the mandated increase, “This is evidence of the efficient management of our district as a whole. The students and the taxpayers in Stevensville receive tremendous value for their investment in our schools.”
The USDA requirement for 2017-18 for the average meal price is $2.86 per meal. The price increase is a step toward the requirement but will not fully comply with the USDA directive. Currently, the school district contributes general fund money to the program to increase the school district average price. The General Fund contribution will help the District bridge the gap between the required USDA cost and what the school currently charges. However, it is likely that the District will revisit school meal pricing for the next several years to move into compliance.
According to Dr. Moore, the pricing problem can be compounded when older students frequently choose fast food options and do not eat at the school. Without the higher priced meals being purchased, the calculated average cost per meal decreases. As prices increase, schools can also see a decline in meal purchases as families turn to cheaper options creating a vicious cycle.
The Stevensville Public School District currently qualifies 47% of the student population for free or reduced meals. The highest percentage of students qualifying for the Free and Reduced Meal program is in the K-8 grades which topped 50% in January. Superintendent Moore acknowledged that the USDA program is highly important to students based on our percentage of qualified students. Moore stated, ”we work hard to make sure all of our students are well nourished and ready to learn, but balancing the average price at $2.86 adds financial burden to our families. A mandated federal increase is always difficult when the program is operating well.”
According to Moore, the Stevensville Board of Trustees and administration will comply with the regulations. At the same time, the District will continue to monitor pricing, quality, student usage, and USDA requirements to maintain the best possible meals at the minimum possible price. Ultimately, the District will continue to offer great meals for students at an affordable price and will continually strive make the meal program even better.