CUMBERLAND – The Cumberland School Board approved an increase in the price of lunches for the upcoming Cumberland County Public Schools academic year during its July meeting.

The recommendation came after information was received from the Federal Government, according to the administration team, and will be implemented for the 2011-2012 school year.

The breakfast full price will be $1 and the adult full breakfast price will be $1.50.

Lunch, full prices, will see a ten-cent increase from the previous school year.

The new amount will be $1.60 and the adult price will be set at $2.75.

The recommendation, according to Chip Jones, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, is based on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 that was signed into law by the President in December.

According to information provided to the Board, “the Federal Government has not given a date when the full price lunch must equal the reimbursement rate for a free or reduced lunch. The Federal Government does recommend school divisions gradually increase full lunch prices each year to meet the federal $2.46 reimbursement rate.”

According to the Act, schools must provide the same level of support for lunches served to students paying for lunch as the lunches served to students eligible for free lunch.

This provision went into effect on July 1, according to the discussion, and applies to student lunch prices.

“I applaud Mr. (William) Brandt (food service coordinator) for what he is trying to do and you can come up here and eat lunch as a parent and they do a fine job, but I still can't support this,” said School Board member George Lee Dowdy III about the proposed increase.

After the discussion, the increase was approved on a four to one vote. Dowdy voted in opposition to the increase.