Published: July 19, 2008 11:47 pm            

Majority of schools raising lunch prices

Rising cost of fuel, food leave schools with few alternatives

As Kokomo-area residents pay more for the gas in their cars and the food they feed their families this fall, parents will have to dig deeper in their pockets to pay for school lunches as well.

All Howard County public schools raised meal prices for the 2008-09 school year, and several in Miami County also increased their prices, as they pay more for the milk, bakery products and other food items, as well as the fuel to deliver them to the schools. Only parents in Tipton County are being spared a price increase.

In Howard County, schools increased meal prices by 15 cents per meal in general, with Eastern raising elementary lunch prices by 25 cents.

Eastern Superintendent Tracy Caddell said the price increase was necessary in order to break even, and prices could have been higher.

“We subsidize part of the lunch program with the a la carte line at the high school. We’re able to move some of those profits to subsidize our lunch program,” he said.

Caddell projects food costs will increase by 15 percent to 25 percent for the school year.

“Food costs are just skyrocketing. The price of fuel is pushing all the vendors to increase their prices. We also have to deal with the fact corn prices have increased dramatically” because corn is being diverted for use as fuel rather than food.

Caddell said he won’t know if more parents will apply for free and reduced lunch, which is based on family income, until after school starts.

Kokomo-Center Schools raised lunch prices by 15 cents and breakfast prices by 10 cents each, to offset increased costs.

Business manager Eric Rody said bread prices increased by about 20 percent for the upcoming school year, while milk prices went up 10 percent and groceries were up from 15 percent to 25 percent.

He also recommended an increase of 5 cents for each carton of milk.

Western Superintendent Peter O’Rourke said the corporation food services manager recommended an increase to him, also based on increasing prices.

“With the increasing of prices of gas and transportation, she says this is going to keep up,” O’Rourke said. “We’re trying the best we can.”

Western also raised the price for a carton of milk by 5 cents, for milk in addition to what is served with lunch.

Maconaquah Superintendent Debra Jones said she is considering asking the school board for a meal price increase, after reviewing food costs.

She said one increase in the cost of providing meals is that the corporation is being charged a fuel surcharge to deliver the milk to the school.

“What choice do I have?” Jones said.

Of local schools surveyed, only North Miami, Northern of Tipton County and Tipton are not increasing meal prices, though Tipton will charge an additional 10 cents per carton for extra milk.

Tipton Superintendent Robert Schultz said the corporation contracts with Aramark to provide meals, and that company can save money by buying in bulk. Aramark provides food service to about a dozen Indiana schools and the Indiana Department of Correction, among other clients.

Schultz said Tipton’s meal prices have been the same since 2004, except breakfast, which decreased in price in 2007 and is the same for 2008.

Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com

        

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