School System To Increase Price For School Lunches

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Posted: 3:09 PM Jul 25, 2008
Last Updated: 3:09 PM Jul 25, 2008

8 comments

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Rising food prices are forcing an Eastern Kentucky school system to charge their students more for school lunches.

The superintendent of Bell County Schools says they've tried to absorb extra food costs for a while, but they couldn't any longer. When school starts next month, Bell County High School students, for example, will be paying one dollar and fifty cents, a quarter more than before.

"Food costs have risen so much, we just couldn't see how we would stay in the black and provide a quality meal without going up on the lunches," said Superintendent George Thompson.

The reduced meals program will not be affected.

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Posted by: Linda Location: Harlan on Jul 27, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Andrew, You need to be go hungry for awhile. Your not even funny.

Posted by: Melissa Location: Pike County on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:44 PM
We are already paying $1.50 for lunch, and because our officials are greedy and don't care about our kids, our schools are starting Aug. 6th......that means we have to buy both summer school clothes and winter school clothes. Like we're not already struggling to purchase gas and food.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Pike Coutny on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Well... Pike County has been charging $1.50 for lunch and .75 for breakfast for over 3 years now. They are not in the red.. BUT well into the black. ESPECIALLY after they charge the children for everything extra they get. I little spoon of green beans, mashed potatoes, 8oz. of milk... it all costs them...Some children get their only hot meal a day at school. I say feed them well balanced meals that will fill them up.. NOT leave them begging for more just because they don't have the "CASH" to pay for extras!!

Posted by: hmm Location: Jackson Co. on Jul 26, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Where I went to school, we had to pay about $2.00 for lunch each day- so I see this as nothing. If you can't afford to pay for lunch, then you probably need to either pack their lunch, or fill out the little application for free/reduced lunches that come home with the child in the first week of school. $1.50 is nothing for lunch. Can you eat at McDonalds for that?

Posted by: pikevillemom Location: pikeville on Jul 26, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Andrew are you an idiot? Do you know how many hungry kids would be sitting and watching other kids eat their lunch, I could never eat knowing someone else couldn't afford to do the same...everyone deserves food...stupid comment!

Posted by: Parents Location: Bell Co. on Jul 26, 2008 at 05:34 AM
" Here are the facts...The Bell Co. School District had 3051 students enrolled last year. With a total increase of 65 cents per student, assuming they eat both meals, the district will receive an extra $1,983.15 per day or $366,882.75 per year. Which is only a fraction of what it actually cost for them to fix and serve the 1,128,870 student meals per year. However, we must not forget that 89% of those students who are enrolled in the Bell Co. School District qualify for free or reduced lunches, which are not slated to go up at this time. So for the 11% of students whose parents are hard working citizens, who do not receive any state or federal assistance, who are already dealing with the affects of inflation in their own budgets and who are paying the taxes which will fund the other 89% of the meals served...Congratulations it will now cost you an extra $120 per year for your student to eat at school. Realizing that for many of the 89% of students these two meals maybe the only ones they receive each day, something should be done to consider what is served. Maybe, the district should form a committee of accountants and nutritionist to evaluate what foods offer the highest nutrition level and are the least expensive and let that be a starting point for building a menu which will be appealing to most students. Once you have five healthy meals (one for each day) which meet all the nutritional guidelines serve them over and over again. Having said that, what nutritional group does the cookie satisfy? With childhood obesity and Type II Diabetes becoming an epidemic in our country could it be we could omit the cookie and the increase? "

Posted by: Andrew on Jul 26, 2008 at 05:33 AM
Stop free lunches,make everyone pay.Then raise prices if need be.

Posted by: what a site Location: this is on Jul 26, 2008 at 05:21 AM
I cant afford to send them to school now well I guess they have to stay home an least ill feed them for free an dont cost them a thing

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