Citing federal requirements, the Great Neck Board of Education voted last week to approve an increase of 16 cents for school lunches throughout the district.
Board members and school district administrators board said the increasee was necessary under a directive issued by the federal government in the Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which calls for sufficient funds must be provided to the nonprofit school food service account. That account is responsible for serving lunches to students who are not eligible for free or reduced priced meals.
“Our prices have been relatively low, and they still are,” said John Powell, assistant superintendent for business. “Based on the criteria established by the Department of Agriculture that monitors this entire process, we have to raise our regular school prices a certain percentage.”
By using the formula provided by the agriculture department, the board voted to approve an increase of 16 cents a meal.
“We normally would not be raising these prices,” Powell said. “This is not something the board of education or the administration would normally do.”
“It’s all a requirement by law, we have to do it based on legislation that was passed two years ago,” Powell added.
Great Neck Superintendent Thomas P. Dolan said he said he shared Powell’s unhappiness with how the increase came about but said Great Neck students would see some benefits.
“The increase in lunch price is brought about because of federal mandates relative to the school lunch program,” Dolan said. “While we regret the increased cost we do believe that the school lunches will be even more nutritious as a result.”
In other business, the board voted unanimously to suspend a policy for use of district facilities policy that was passed last spring.
As the policy has begun to take effect this past summer various issues began to arise, said Dolan.
“Part of the issue is that some of the groups have asked for a number of permits and I don’t think they’re fully aware of the cost and we want to share that information with them,” he said.
Dolan said he also wanted to revise the policy between the school district and other municipalities that wish to use the facilities.
Dolan asked to the board to vote on a new resolution, which would suspend the previous policy and refer it back to the policy committee to addresses the issues.
“In the meantime we will revert to the old policy and the new policy will take effect once approved and we will move on from there,” Dolan said.
