School board rejects school lunch price increase -- for now

The Beaufort County Board of Education rejected a 15-cent price increase for school lunches and breakfast Tuesday and asked district staff to present a revised proposal later this month.

District administrators asked the board to approve the increase to cover escalating food costs, said Phyllis White, the district's chief operational services officer.

The proposal would have raised the price of:

• elementary school lunches from $1.25 to $1.40.

• middle and high school lunches from $1.75 to $1.90.

• and breakfast from $1 to $1.15.

The increases would have generated an additional $200,000, White said. The district's lunch program is self-sustaining and does not use money from the general fund.

The district has not raised meal prices since 2005.

Several board members, however, said they did not want to burden families with higher prices.

"I have a problem with raising prices when the same economy that might be pushing up food costs is also the economy that has led South Carolina to have one of the highest unemployment rates in nation," board vice chairman Bob Arundell said.

With only about two weeks left before school starts for most county students, board member Laura Bush said families are already spending money on school supplies and uniforms.

"I think this is a bit much," Bush said. "To hit (families) right as school starts is something we should not be doing."

Board chairman Fred Washington Jr. suggested district staff bring a different recommendation to the board at its Aug. 18 meeting.

The proposal should ensure the meal program continues to be self-sustaining and maintains nutritional standards, Washington said. He warned the proposal could still call for a price increase.

The district has tried to serve more nutritious food in recent years, which White said has contributed to a need for a price increase. Schools have stopped selling several unhealthy items -- such as ice cream and french fries -- on an a al carte menu, and the district has lost the revenue generated from those items.

A price increase would not affect students who qualify for free meals. About half of the district's more than 19,000 students qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program.