Taking a bite out of the budget

The cost of school breakfasts and lunches are going up for the 2022-2023 school year.

That is what the Carrington Public School District Board of Education learned at their last meeting.

During the meeting held on Monday, July 11, business manager Kimary Edland informed the board that the free school lunches that were federally mandated last year are no longer valid, and the cost of food has increased by 8.5 percent.

Edland told the board that the USDA recommends that schools charge $3.31 per meal for students, but Carrington School District made changes to the meal cost a bit under the recommendation. The changes are as follows: For the upcoming school year, breakfasts will increase from $1.95 to $2.25 per meal for K-12 and $2.70 to $3.00 per meal for adults.

The noon meal will increase from $2.45 to $3.00 for pre-K through sixth grade, $2.90 to $3.15 for seventh through twelfth grade and from $3.65 to $4.00 per meal for adults and school employees, but guests will pay $7.00 per meal.

There will be no change for the cost of milk and bread, but seconds for lunch will increase from $.80 to $1.00.

The school will offer driver’s education next summer for $185.00 per student.

There will be no change in participation fees or cardinal insurance, but the after school program will increase from $65 to $70 per student.

• The board reorganized for the 2022-2023 school year, voting Joel Lemer in as president and Kevin Wolsky as vice president.

All the board committees will stay the same.

• A discussion came up about having a custodian check on the school building on weekends in case of an emergency like a broken pipe and flooding.

• Another discussion ensued about the size of meals. Edland said the size of meals served at the school for kindergartners and seniors is much the same with just a little less for the younger group.

Board members Randy Hooey and Kevin Wolsky were adamant that seniors and kindergartners have different meal sizes. Board member Tonia Erickson said she would bring it up at the next lunch committee meeting.

• The board discussed looking for a new PA system for the new stadium.

• The board received one bid for a new “mini” bus.

The bid came in from I State Truck Center at $99,000 with a $15,000 trade-in for the old mini bus.

Coincidentally, the school district has $85,000 in the budget for the new bus.

They were informed that they can expect a spring 2023 delivery of the new bus.

• Finally, the board agreed to keep their regular meeting time at 4:00 p.m. during the school year.