Gloucester schools are adding a dime to the price of each school lunch next year, a 3 percent hike to help balance a food service budget that has been in the red in recent years.
The increase takes the cost of each elementary school lunch to $2.60, O'Maley Middle School lunches to $2.85 and lunches at Gloucester High School to $3.10.
The price increase is part of a five-year school lunch business plan approved by the School Committee on Wednesday that includes scheduled 2 percent price increases each year until the 2013-2014 academic year.
The new business plan and corresponding increases come after three straight years when lunch prices held steady, but deficits cropped up in the food service budget.
This school year, the first included in the new five-year plan, the school food program broke into the black after laying off five workers and trimming expenses.
Starting the year in an estimated $163,000 hole (the bookkeeping of the schools and city differ), by the end of next year the food program is expected to carry a $46,000 surplus.
By the final year of the business plan, the food service budget is expected to carry a $186,000 surplus. If business goes better than expected, the schools could reconsider the scheduled 2 percent increases.
Like all municipal budgeting, the rising cost of employee health insurance is a concern in the food service program.
"This represents some serious financial planning in order to ensure that it is in the black and make growing contributions to the cost of health insurance," Superintendent Christopher Farmer said yesterday.
Along with raising food prices, the schools also announced that they will also introduce a "Universal Breakfast" program for all students at Veterans Elementary School in August. Farmer yesterday said he did not know whether the breakfast would be free.
To combat traditional complaints about school lunches' nutrition and quality, the district has set up a working group to take another look at food available to students, including lunches and vending machines.
"We do have concerns about quality expressed, so we are re-establishing the working group that will review menu and nutritional values and retain fresh food when available," said Farmer, who noted that "our meals do meet all federal nutritional standards."
Patrick Anderson may contacted at 978-283-7000x 3455, or panderson@gloucestertimes.com.
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