School board raises breakfast, lunch prices

McCook Public School board of education members raised breakfast and lunch prices 10 cents for students, during their monthly meeting Monday evening.

Larry Young of Sodexho, who provides meal service to McCook schools, told board members the increase is due to rising food and milk costs. Young said that, during the 2007-2008 school year, Sodexho at McCook paid $8,000 more for milk than it did the year before. The price of one-half pint of milk peaked, from 19 cents to 27 cents, in December and January, he said.

Young and MPS business director Rick Haney said the price increase is expected to generate about $15,000.

Young said that even with the meal price increase, the 2008-2009 budget is "pretty tight," without "a lot of wiggle room." He said, however, he anticipates continued usage of the senior high alacarte offering which ended the year strong, but hadn't been available at the beginning of the school year.

Haney said this is the first increase in students' breakfast and lunch prices in about five years. With the 10-cent increase, prices will now be:

* BREAKFAST: McCook Elementary and Central Elementary, $1.05; and junior/senior high, $1.15.

* LUNCH: McCook Elementary, $1.85; Central Elementary, $1.95; and junior/senior high, $2.10.

Adult prices will also increase 10 cents.

The board unanimously approved the one-year contract with Sodexho, including the 10-cent price increase.

Haney told board members it may be necessary to increase prices again for the 2009-2010 school year.