For Immediate Release

June 23, 2008

Lunch prices increase 25 cents

The Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education tonight approved a 25-cent increase in school lunches for the 2008-09 school year.

Student lunch prices will be: $2.50 for elementary and intermediate students; $2.75 for middle and high school students. The adult lunch price will be $3.25.

“This year’s unanticipated increase in fuel costs has forced our suppliers to increase the cost of food, beverage and paper products to us,” said Food Service Supervisor Dianne Simko. “Thus it will be necessary for us to increase our lunch prices in order to cover the increases in fuel, food, beverage and supplies.”

According to the School Nutrition Association, the increase in food, milk and energy costs, combined with high labor and benefit costs are driving school boards to raise lunch prices and school nutrition programs to cut costs or go into the red. Many food items critical to providing balanced, nutritious school meals saw double-digit price increases during 2007 according to USDA Economic Research Service:

* Milk increased by 17%
* Rice and pasta increased by 13%
* Cheese increased by 15%
* Bread increased by 12%.

Page posted 6/24/08