PhillyBurbs.com: Parents upset over hike in school lunch costs
Parents upset over hike in school lunch costs
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville schools
Attention parents: Lunch prices are going up by 20 percent when the school year in Morrisville begins on Sept. 7. That's 50 cents higher than the past three years.
The increase, approved unanimously by the school board Wednesday night, has some parents upset about being denied input into the decision. A few tried to speak up against the increase in cost, but their request was rejected abruptly by board President Bill Hellmann.
"No," he said firmly, making a stop sign out of his hand as he faced the parents.
They continued to whisper and mumble, some complaining they don't qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, which is based on family income.
Parent and former board member Johanny Manning said she has three children in the district who she packs lunch for.
Once every two weeks, she treats them to a paid school lunch.
"That's $9 in one day," she said. "It's a lot of money."
Faculty lunch prices will also increase in Morrisville, from $3.75 to $4.25. The breakfast price will remain the same, $1.35 for students and employees.
The overall food service budget for the coming school year is about $400,000, according to Paul W. DeAngelo, the district's business administrator. About $205,000 will come from sales, $25,000 from local taxpayers, and the remainder of $170,000 from state and federal subsidies.
The Bristol Borough School District also increased lunch prices by 50 cents a meal recently.
The prices will go from $2.50 to $3 at Bristol Borough JR/SR High School; students at Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary School will pay $2.50 instead of $2.
The district also serves breakfast, but prices will remain unchanged there, at $1 at Snyder-Girotti and $1.50 at the high school.
The increase was necessary to keep the school lunch program self-supporting, Joseph Roe, Bristol Borough School District's business manager, has said.
August 27, 2010 02:10 AM
