Students will need a little more lunch money when school starts in Duval County next week.<\/p>\n
The Duval County School Board voted Tuesday to approve a 10-cent increase for student lunches \u2014\u00a0bringing the total to $4.10 for elementary students and $4.35 for middle and high school students. Breakfast will continue to be free for all students.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
At a workshop last month, district officials told board members they must raise prices to comply with federal guidance<\/a>. A request for the district to clarify which policy applies was not returned by this story\u2019s publication.\u00a0<\/p>\n Duval Schools contracts with a third-party vendor, Chartwells, for food service. The rate DCPS pays per meal is set according to a formula that takes into account Consumer Price Index<\/a> data. This year, the district\u2019s cost is $4.58. The district receives a 56 cent federal reimbursement for every meal it serves, plus additional funding for students who receive free or reduced-price lunches. So, with parents paying $4.10, the district will net 8 cents per meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Duval\u2019s school lunch prices are higher than all of its neighboring districts\u2019. In St. Johns County, lunch costs $3.25 for elementary students and $3.50 for secondary students. Clay County raised its prices<\/a> to $3 and $3.25 for this school year. All schools in Baker and Putnam counties offer universal free breakfast and lunch.<\/p>\n Some lunch is free<\/p>\n Many Duval Schools students won\u2019t have to worry about the cost increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n About 70% of the schools the district operates are designated as Community Eligibility Provision schools<\/a> \u2014\u00a0meaning a majority of students at the schools qualify for the federal free lunch program, and so all students will receive it without having to apply.\u00a0<\/p>\n