Cape school board approves lunch price increase

In their first meeting after the 2012-2013 school year, the Cape Girardeau School Board met Monday night to discuss a light agenda that included breakfast and lunch prices for the 2013-2014 school year.

"Our breakfast program is served daily at no charge in all district buildings," said Lisa Elfrink, nutrition coordinator for the district. "Breakfast allows for a great start to the day, particularly during times of testing."

The district began serving breakfast to students in 1991, and the program was expanded to include all district buildings.

Elfrink recommended to board members the district continue the no-charge breakfast program for the 2013-2014 school year. However, she did recommend a 10-cent increase in the cost of school lunches for the upcoming school year.

"Currently, the cost of lunch in the elementary schools is $1.65," she said. "In the middle and junior high schools, it's $1.90. At the high school, it's $2.15. There should be an increase of 10 cents to comply with the federal mandate in the Hunger Free Child Act of 2010."

Elfrink said under the terms of the law, school districts must increase the cost of their school lunches to reach a certain level of federal reimbursement per student.

"This happens every year, but the increases are capped at 10 cents," she said.

Board member Don Call expressed concern at the calorie level in high school lunches, which he said were only 750 calories per serving.

"A lunch with only that many calories can be a problem for many students, especially athletes," Call said.

Elfrink said there is a concern in the district that there is an overfeeding of younger students and an underfeeding of the older ones.

"The lunch program is being tweaked to arrive at the proper results," she said.

The school board unanimously approved the 10-cent increase in school lunches and retaining free breakfasts during a vote on consent items.

Other action

Dr. Jim Welker, district superintendent, announced that Claire Herbst received the John T. Belcher Scholarship from the Missouri School Boards' Association. The Belcher Scholarship is presented annually to member districts of the association and is worth $750. Herbst, a member of the Central High School Class of 2013, is the daughter of Charlie and Dr. Sydney Herbst.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.