Primary school lunch costs rising
School lunch prices at Pittsburg Primary School will be raised from $2.50 to $2.65, the first increase since 2010. Increased lunch costs will not affect students who meet the eligibility requirements for free or reduced lunch. Lunch prices at all other campuses will remain the same.
The decision to raises costs came at the Monday, July 20 meeting of the Pittsburg Independent School District Board of Trustees. Free breakfast will be offered to all students at all campuses.
In other business, board members voted to end its involvement with the Community Eligibility Provision program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the USDA, the CEP provides an alternative approach for offering school meals to local educational agencies and schools in low income areas, instead of collecting individual applications for free and reduced price meals.
Board members voted to return to its previous use of the National School Lunch Program and Universal Free Breakfast. Superintendent Judy Pollan said the district had high hopes for the CEP, but the program turned out to be cost prohibitive. Preliminary estimates show the program may have cost the district $30,000-$50,000. “It’s great, but we felt it was too costly for the district,” she said. “We had to supplement with all the fund balance out of our Child Nutrition Fund balance. It was extremely disappointing to us.”
Board member Christian Yantis was elected as the board’s delegate for the upcoming Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of School Boards conference. Greg Miller will serve as alternate.
Budget talks
Board members also discussed the budget for the upcoming school year. A surplus of nearly $350,000 is expected from the state and Mrs. Pollan said the proposed budget reflects many of the district’s “wish list” items. While the final budget won’t be ready until August, teacher salaries and insurance costs will most likely be changing.
By Tori Lyle, news@campcountynow.com -- To continue reading this article, purchase the print edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at:http://www.etypeservices.com/
- Log in to post comments
