Schenectady school meal prices likely to increase

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

School meal prices could go up nearly a dollar starting in January as the Schenectady City School District attempts to reduce a deficit in the program.

Prices for breakfast would increase from 75 cents to $1.50 for elementary school students; from 75 cents to $1.75 for middle school students from $1 to $1.75 for the high school. Lunch prices would increase from $1.45 to $2.50 for elementary students, from $1.60 to $2.65 for middle schoolers and from $1.75 to $2.65 for high school students. In addition, the adult price for lunch would be $2.86.

The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its meeting today at 8 p.m. at the William C. Keane Elementary School on Albany Street.

Superintendent Eric Ely said the district officials are reluctant to raise prices but said it is the only way to close a gap projected to grow to $175,000 by the end of the school year in June.

“We haven’t raised prices in over 10 years and costs have been going up so fast and our reimbursements for our free and reduced lunch at the federal level have not been going up,” he said.

About 72 percent of students in the district receive free or reduced price meals, which would stay at 25 cents for both breakfast and lunch.

The prices were raised to their current levels in 1997. Ely said the program has run deficits in the last few years but it has been in the range of $50,000 and the district absorbed it. However, the deficit has increased in the last couple years.

The city Board of Education has been hesitant to raise prices because Schenectady has a high-needs population. However, Ely said “We’re at the point now where we don’t have any other options.”

Another issue Ely said is that more students appear to be bringing their lunch from home. While enrollment has grown, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of students purchasing meals.

He said changes to reduce fat content and offer more healthy foods is not a major factor in the cost overruns.

The district is going to bid out its food service contract. Sodexho has been the provider for at least four years, Ely said. Because of changes in federal law, districts would have to rebid their food contracts either after this year or next and Schenectady will as soon as possible.

Several districts including Shenendehowa, Ballston Spa and Albany raised meal prices this year.