PRINCE EDWARD – Children who pay the regular full price for school lunches will pay a little more next year.

Fifteen cents more.

“The Health and Hungry Free Kids Act of 2010 requires school authorities to annually review the paid price meals and to ensure that we're equal to the reimbursement rate that we get from the federal government,” detailed Food Service Department Supervisor Bruce Davis at the School Board's March meeting.

School food authorities participating in the National Lunch Program charging less than $2.59 for paid lunches in the current school year are required to adjust the weighted average or chip in non-federal funds to cover the difference. The amount per meal increase is to be 4.93 percent, but the law caps a required increase at ten cents a year.

Currently, students pay $1.85 per lunch.

Essentially, school divisions have two options-either increase their lunch prices gradually, or wait and have a big jump in price all at one time.

Division Superintendent Dr. David Smith asked if the decision were to be made all at once if Davis would have any idea at what point that would be required.

“…Certainly it would be a nasty surprise for parents,” Dr. Smith commented, “but do you have any idea what the timeframe might be for that…?

Davis responded “No,” that they do not have any timeframe. He explained that they have asked that “several times” and USDA has not given an answer.

“…We have to look at it every year and we're required right now to raise it every year five cents,” he also told the board. “We were able to raise it ten cents (in 2011), which gave us a year off … but … some schools have made that bigger jump like you've talked about-raising it 15-20 cents – then it gives them a couple of years cushion.”

Davis agreed that it would be the most prudent thing to raise the cost incrementally.

The board unanimously approved the increase.