The Brownwood ISD school board approved a slight increase in school lunch prices for the 2012-2013 school year at Monday night’s board meeting. This 10 cent increase will impact students who pay full price for their lunches in elementary, middle school, and high school. There will be no change in prices for reduced-price lunches or free lunches.
“This just affects full paid students,” said BISD Superintendent Reece Blincoe. “67% of our students are free and reduced (lunches), so this increase will affect the other 33%.”
The United States Department of Agriculture has mandated a pricing structure for schools receiving federal funds. The USDA will allow a gradual increase of 10 centers per year until the current target price of $2.51 per student “paid” lunch is reached. Brownwood ISD currently charges elementary students $2.00 and secondary students $2.25. In order to avoid risking the district’s $1.3 million annual reimbursement, the district voted unanimously Monday night to charge $2.10 for elementary students and $2.35 for secondary students for the coming school year.
District officials said that that increase will generate an additional $9000 annually which will help offset a part of the costs of new federally mandated nutritional standards which will require the district to increase the quantity of food offered, increase the number of whole grains served, and offer a greater diversity of vegetables.
In other items addressed at Monday’s BISD School Board Meeting:
*BISD School Board took no action in applying to the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium on recommendation by the superintendent. Blincoe said that although he is favor of the program, at this time the cost would be recurring and the district would lose some control being a part of the consortium. They may consider applying in the future.
*BISD School Board approved an Internet Safety Plan as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act.
*BISD School Board took no action in approving the BISD Technology Plan for the 2012-2013 school year pending additional information.
*Superintendent Reece Blincoe gave a report regarding three school board trustee seats that will be up for election in the November 6th election. Seats held by Roderick Jones, Nesa Morelock, and Micheal Coppic will be on the ballot. July 21st is the first day to file for a place on the General Election Ballot and early voting begins on October 22nd.
*School board trustees received a financial report and athletics report. Preliminary STARR/TAKS scores were presented, but only raw scores were currently available.
