Communications :: Press Release

Lunch Prices Increasing Due to USDA Regulations

[June 29, 2011]

MANSFIELD, TX – The Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a fifteen cent ($.15) increase in meal prices to meet new USDA regulations set to go into effect July 1, 2011.

Signed into law December 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 will impact the cost of meals and operations of the Student Nutrition Department.

Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that school districts start closing the gap between what we charge for full price student lunches and what the US Department of Agriculture reimburses Mansfield ISD for a free lunch.

“Currently, the USDA reimbursement is at $2.72,” said Gaylan Mathis, Director of Student Nutrition. “With our elementary lunches at $2.00 and secondary at $2.25 you can see we have a large gap to close.”

The USDA allows school districts to have slight increases annually until regulations are met. As presented in the board presentation last night, USDA averages $.05 increase yearly in the federal funding for a free lunch. Based on that average, and assuming that the price calculator does not change over the next year, MISD would continue to have annual price increases through the 2017-18 school year. We are anticipating that the USDA’s reimbursement will be approximately $2.95 by that time.

Lunch Price Increase

• Under the recently enacted Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, Equity in Meal Pricing clause, districts are mandated to begin increasing paid meal prices to eventually align with free meal reimbursement (currently set at $2.72).
• The board approved a lunch price increase of $.15 for all student meals as well as $.15 for adult meals.
• To be in compliance with the USDA's new guidelines, the new lunch prices for 2011-12 academic year will increase $.15.
  
  Below is the lunch price breakdown:
  • $2.15 for elementary and intermediate schools;
  • $2.40 for middles and high schools;
  • $2.90 for high school extreme meal (premium entrée); and
  • $3.15 for adults.
    
    
• Breakfast meal prices will remain the same.
• Lunch prices for free and reduced students are established by USDA. Requested meal price increase will not affect free and reduced price students.
• The changes go into effect July 1, 2011 and includes summer school meals.

Below is the June 2011 Student Nutrition School Board Presentation: