School meal prices will remain the same

About 80 Cherokee County Boys and Girls Club members have eaten school meals each week through a summer food program operated by the school district. Cherokee County students won't pay more for their meals when students return to school in August.

A regular student lunch costs $1.30 at elementary schools, $1.40 at middle schools and $1.60 at high schools.

Prices have remained the same in county schools since 2006.

Cherokee County Food Services Director Roland Cabading said he remains hopeful the district will not have to charge more for school meals.

The state Department of Education recommended districts increase their food budgets by 10 percent this school year. About 30 percent of the state's 85 school districts have considered raising meal prices.

"We have received notification from several food vendors that their prices are going up. We projected for that in our food budget this year," Cabading said. "We will find out how good our projections really are."

At its best, school food service is traditionally a break-even business where school districts seek to recover their costs and turn a slight profit.

School districts are being squeezed by food costs on several fronts this year.

Milk prices have gone up 30 percent over the past year. Grain and corn prices have increased with demand for corn as a food crop and raw material used in producing ethanol fuel.

Gasoline prices are approaching record highs of $4 per gallon in South Carolina. This means higher transportation costs for the district's food vendors.

County schools saw 61.1 percent of last year's students participate in school lunch programs. This was a slight increase over the 57.4 percent mark for the 2006- 2007 school year.

"We hope by offering good meals and increasing participation in our meal program that we can offset the higher food prices," Cabading said.

The district will renew its annual request for students to return free and reduced lunch applications. The federal government reimburses the district $2.47 per meal for students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches.

The higher prices come as the Cherokee County School District started a food service program this summer to increase revenue. Students can receive free breakfasts and lunches by enrolling in programs operated by the Cherokee County YMCA, Limestone Missionary Baptist Church and Kid's Corner.

The Cherokee Boys and Girls Club serves meals to any student who attends county schools.

The district has served an average of 300 meals per day thus far this summer.

"This is the first time our school district has done this type of summer meal program," Cabading said. "We are pleased with the participation. We believe the impact of serving these meals will carry over to the school year through healthier children and better school attendance."