Cafeteria budget projects $33,963 loss; board renews Nutrition Group contract

Presenter for the Nutrition Group reviewed the district’s proposed 2026–27 food-service budget, saying projected enrollment will drop by 28 students and that food costs are expected to rise about 5 percent. The presenter said commodity delivery fees and rising fuel and paper/cleaning costs are increasing expenses and that the district’s hourly food-service staff (26 positions) have wage and fringe increases baked into the renewal documents.

The presenter said the district receives commodity foods for free but pays delivery costs and highlighted reimbursement details; she told the board, "The bottom line guarantee for the 2627 school year is a loss of $33,962.60." She also described staff incentives added to the budget (shoe allowance and attendance incentives) and recommended drawing down an excess fund balance because current reserves exceed the three-month operating threshold.

Board discussion asked for clarifications about a la carte sales, contract mechanics for packaging meals for IU 9 and other sending districts, and whether the revenue projections reflected the district’s participation in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The presenter responded that the district will continue packaging meals for outside districts under a 3086 contract and that reimbursement rates reflect current federal credits.

On a separate motion, the board approved a one-year renewal with the Nutrition Group for the 2026–27 school year.

The board did not change the district’s approach to reimbursements at the meeting; the presenter noted that more detailed line items were included in renewal documents submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The next procedural step is implementation of the renewed management contract for 2026–27 and budget monitoring by district staff during the coming fiscal year.