Background Information:

In accordance with Board Policy 3550, the School Board is responsible for approving menu price changes. The mission of the Student Nutrition Department is to provide healthy, satisfying meals that support student learning. To sustain this mission, the department is requesting an increase to paid meal prices.

These adjustments are necessary to maintain compliance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Paid Lunch Equity requirements (7 CFR §210.14(e)) and to ensure sufficient funds are available in the nonprofit school food service account. Federal regulations require school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program to cover the full cost of meals served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals, either through meal pricing or other non-federal funding sources.

The last meal price adjustment was approved by the School Board in August 2022. The proposed price increases will take effect beginning January 2025, for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year. These adjustments reflect rising food and labor costs, reduced commodity support, and inflationary pressures.

The proposed changes are as follows:

Elementary Lunch: Increase by $0.10, from $3.50 to $3.60.
Adult Breakfast: Increase from $3.00 to $5.50.
Adult Lunch: Increase from $5.50 to $8.00.

All other student meal prices will remain unchanged. These revisions ensure the district remains compliant with federal regulations under the National School Lunch Act Sections 4 and 11, and that the Student Nutrition program remains financially sustainable.

Alaska Districts Proposed 2025-26 Breakfast Pricing Comparisons

District	Elem. Paid	Reduced	Middle School	High School	Adult
KPBSD	$2.50	NC	$2.50	$2.50	$5.50
Mat-Su	$3.25	NC	$3.25	$3.25	$4.75
ASD	$4.50	$.30	$4.75	$5.00	$6.00
Fairbanks	$3.25	NC	$3.50	$3.50	$5.75
Juneau	NC	NC	NC	$2.00	$4.50

Alaska Districts Proposed 2025-26 Lunch Pricing Comparisons

District	Elem. Paid	Reduced	Middle School	High School	Adult
KPBSD	$3.60	$.40	$4.00	$4.00	$8.00
Mat-Su	$4.25	NC	$5.25	$5.25	$8.00
ASD	$6.25	$.40	$6.75	$7.25	$7.75
Fairbanks	$4.75	$.40	$5.00	$5.00	$7.25
Juneau	$5.50	$.40	$5.50	$5.50	$7.50

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