Schools To Beef Up Meal Prices Lunch Up A Dime, Breakfast Up A Nickel To Cover Wage Increases

FOR THE RECORD (June 13, 1997): Story wrong: Lunch prices in Spokane School District 81 are rising for the third time in five years. A story in Thursday’s Spokesman-Review indicated otherwise.

Lunch prices will rise in Spokane public schools next fall for the third year in a row.

The money is needed to offset salary increases and a rise in other expenses, District 81 officials said.

Lunch will increase 10 cents, to $1.25 in elementary schools; $1.60 in middle schools, and $1.85 in high schools.

High school students who pay in advance and use debit accounts will be charged $1.60.

Breakfast prices will rise by a nickel, to 65 cents at elementary schools and 85 cents at middle and high schools.

Students on reduced-price breakfast and lunch plans will pay the same as last year: 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast.

The hike in lunch and breakfast prices will help cover an additional $320,000 in expenses next year, said Richard Skinner, director of the food department.

The district’s 190 food workers received 4 percent salary increases for next school year, increasing the food service budget by about $120,000.

An extra $200,000 will also be spent on indirect expenses next year, such as warehousing and delivery, said Skinner.

“It’s a substantial increase for us in one year,” said Skinner. “Hopefully next year we won’t have either increase to deal with.”

School officials blamed last fall’s increase on wage hikes and new federal menu regulations calling for more fruits, vegetables and bread.

At a Wednesday meeting, school board members approved the price jump without debate.

“The only thing bad about the $1.60 for middle schools is you hand your child $2 and you never get the change back,” said board member Terrie Beaudreau.

Spokane schools serve about 16,000 lunches and 4,500 breakfasts daily.

, DataTimes