School meal prices increase for 2016-17
The Wake County Board of Education approved price increases for 2016-17 school meals, the first price increase in six years.
Even with the price increase, school breakfast and lunch continue to be a great value. Meals are nutrient rich and include low fat dairy, whole grains, lean meats, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables with a variety of offerings for students to choose from daily.
At elementary schools, full-paid meals will increase 25 cents to $1.25 for breakfast and $2.25 for lunch. At middle and high schools, full paid meals will increase 25 cents to $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch.
With these increases in meal prices for 2016-17, WCPSS Child Nutrition Services will be able to maintain a balanced budget. Funds to cover the cost of labor including state-mandated pay increases as well as other expenses must be generated by the non-profit Child Nutrition account from the sale of school meals to students. To be compliant with the Paid Lunch Equity requirement of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act and to maintain current services, WCPSS needed to increase meal prices.
The proposed meal prices remain reasonable compared to other school systems in North Carolina.
2015-16 elementary school lunch prices
2.00 Wake County
2.20 Johnston County
1.95 Nash-Rocky Mount
2.75 Durham
2.70 Guilford
2.20 Orange
2.75 Chapel Hill Carrboro
2.65 Forsythe/Winston Salem
2.25 Charlotte Mecklenburg
2.55
Franklin
The last time, WCPSS increased meal prices was the 2010-11 school year.