Food prices for breakfast and lunches in the Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 could increase by more than the 25-cent proposal by the district.
Superintendent Alex Carter on Tuesday night said the school is spending about 80 cents more to make the lunches than what they are currently charging for them.
In Re-1, elementary grade students pay $1.50 for lunches while the secondary students are charged $1.75. Adults are currently charged $2.40.
For breakfast, elementary students are charged 75 cents while all other students and adults are charged $1.25.
Carter said that the meal prices are the lowest in the area.
For example, the Mancos School District charges 25 cents more for secondary students buying lunch at school, and adults pay 60 cents more than the adults in Re-1. For breakfast, Mancos charges 25 cents more for elementary students and 25 cents less than Re-1 for middle and high school students.
The Dolores School District has the same lunch pay structure as Mancos, though their breakfast prices for all students are $1.25.
Re-1 Board President Tim Lanier said no meal price increases will occur any time soon and definitely not by the beginning of the 2012-13 school year. The board has yet to vote on any increase.
He said the increase, when it is discussed, could be more than the 25 cents that was initially proposed.
Board member Pete Montaño said the meal cost was a bargain and added students who eat off campus will pay three times the price of what the lunches at the school cost.
Chief financial officer Melissa Brunner said the district has not raised prices on its meals for eight years.
Carter touched on the free and reduced lunch program, saying if not for this there would be numerous students who would get one good meal a month, but said he does not want to subsidize this program for students who can afford to pay for their meals.
The superintendent said the district does not want to take food out of the mouths of the kids who need it.
Something needs to happen, but I dont know if the price is right, Carter said. Its inequitable. It doesnt make sense.
He said it costs the district $2.56 for each meal it prepares, but they are charging $1.75 per meal, so for each meal that is served at the high school Re-1 is losing 81 cents.
Carter said he was told the district was able to handle the losses because the cafeteria had built up a good reserve.
I think lunch prices should be changed. Its inevitable, he said.
Since 1983 the prices for school lunches have only increased 80 cents.
It seems like we have not kept up to reality, Carter said.
michaelm@cortezjournal.com
