School Lunch Prices to Increase

Students attending the Barrow County School System will pay more for lunches next school year.

Prices are set to increase as follows: 

• Elementary school lunches from $1.25 to $1.50 
• Middle school lunches from $1.50 to $1.75
• High school lunches from $1.75 to $2

A slide show posted to the Barrow County Board of Education's e-Board website outlined reasons for the increase: 

• Healthy whole foods cost more
• More “from scratch” items and less pre‐packaged foods increases labor costs
• Food prices are expected to increase 4 to 6 percent this year for an average increase for the school system between $13,150 and $19,700 per year
• All systems surrounding Barrow are increasing meal prices 2012‐13

"Most importantly," one slide reads, "as part of Healthy Hunger Free Kids act, federal guidelines now require paid student meal prices to equal federal reimbursement for free meals." 

The act, which was passed in 2010, implements the first meal standard changes for schools in 15 years. 

New meal guidelines for 2012-2013 lunches include: 

• 1⁄2 cup fruit offered daily
• 1⁄2 cup vegetable offered daily
• Grains must be whole grains
• Milk must be fat free or 1 percent, including flavored
• Reduced amount of protein and grain products
• Sodium and calorie levels lowered

The school system indicates it has already added more fresh fruits and vegetables to its offerings, tripling the amount served to date compared to the 2010‐11 school year. The milk offered is skim, 1 percent white and fat-free chocolate, and all new menu items added that contain grain are whole grain. 

In addition to the increase in lunch prices, Barrow County plans to move elementary schools to an "Offer vs. Serve" system. Middle and high schools are already on this system in which entrees are placed on plates and students choose one fruit or vegetable, all pre-portioned for easy pick-up. 

According to the school system, 82 percent of students eat lunch daily and 43 percent eat breakfast. Fifty-seven percent of students are approved for free or reduced-price meals. 

What do you think about the increase in school lunch prices? Does your child or children eat school lunches? What do they say about lunches? Tell us in comments. 

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