Fort Mill Schools could increase meal prices. Here’s how much more parents may pay
Fort Mill School District could raise meal prices for the first time since 2017.
The district’s student nutrition director, Tammie Welch, asked the school board on Tuesday to increase the price of breakfast and lunch by less than a dollar each. The move would help make up for an expected budget shortfall of $1.15 million at the end of this school year.
Fort Mill is on track to serve 2.1 million meals this year, Welch said. About half of Fort Mill students eat school lunches and 21% eat school breakfasts.
Breakfast would increase by 50 cents — from $1.35 to $1.85 — under the proposal. Elementary school lunches would increase by 75 cents — from $2.25 to $3.00. Middle and high school lunches, which are more expensive because they offer bigger portions, would also increase by 75 cents — from $3 to $3.75.
Higher prices would bring in more than $971,000 in projected revenue. The district will also have to make strategic decreases in food expenses in order to balance the budget “or be close to balancing the budget,” Welch said.
The district made capital improvements to its kitchens this year, including new freezers and coolers, which Welch said contributed to the shortfall. Multiple virtual makeup days also contributed to because districts don’t receive money for days that school is closed, Welch said.
Other financial challenges include food, supply and labor cost increases; labor shortages; stricter nutritional standards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; stricter standards to buy American foods; proposed federal cuts of $12 billion to the free and reduced meal program; and a proposed South Carolina bill that would limit food coloring and additives.
The board appeared receptive to the idea and will vote on whether to increase prices at a future meeting.
“Less than $2 for breakfast and $3-4 for lunch — it’s pretty good food, too, in the grand scheme of things for that kind of money. That’s very inexpensive compared to anything you can get anywhere else,” board chair Kristy Spears said
