Board approves 35¢ increase for full-price school lunches after debate over timing and size of rise

The School District of New Berlin board on Tuesday approved a 35¢ increase to each full-price student lunch, the district’s first requested increase since 2013, citing rising food, supply and labor costs and the loss of temporary funding sources.

Administration sought the increase at the request of the district’s director of nutrition services, and Patrick (business staff) said the district had seen expenses exceed revenues over the past nine months. “We have had a higher expenses than revenues,” he said, noting that grants and pandemic-related funding that previously supported meal programs have ended.

Board members debated the timing and size of the increase. One board member said they would prefer to spread a smaller increase over two years; others said they would rather implement a single increase now. The administration noted the school-food fund (Fund 50) operates separately from the general operating budget and said fund balance remained available but would be depleted more quickly given inflation and loss of grant support.

A motion to approve a 35¢ per full-paid meal increase was made by Miss Crosby and seconded by Mr. Zielinski. Board members voted by a show of hands; an initial exchange in the meeting transcript showed confusion about whether a majority had been achieved, but the chair subsequently declared the motion passed.

Administration said the increase will not affect reduced-price or free meals and that the district would notify families promptly if the board affirms the change; staff also said they would include the detail in communications and that final audited numbers for Fund 50 remain unaudited at this time.

Speakers on this item included Patrick, the superintendent and board members. Quotes are taken from remarks at the meeting.