Schools
Hamilton Lunch Prices to Increase
School board approves 15 cent increase in meal prices due to spike in food and fuel prices.
The Monday approved increasing the price of school lunches by 15 cents in the 2011-12 school year.
With the increase, lunches will cost $2.25 at the district’s elementary schools and $2.65 at the middle and high schools. Adult lunches will also increase to $3.40, but milk will remain 30 cents at all levels.
According to a district memo, the price increases are needed due to commodity cutbacks and increased labor costs and higher fuel prices driving up the cost of food. The price of carrots alone skyrocketed for the district, with a 50-pound bag going from $21.76 to $52.74 between the start of the 2010-11 school year and January.
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The district has also seen a 60 percent increase in the cost of cocoa, a 29 percent increase in the cost of grapes and a 17 percent increase in the cost of chocolate chips, 16.6 percent for nutmeg and 10.6 percent for brown sugar
Spork and Styrofoam tray prices have also spiked by 8 percent each and napkin costs have jumped by 7 percent.
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District documents state fuel surcharges of $4.90 has been added by Waukesha Foods, a $5 surcharges has been added by Sysco Foods and North American Paper Co. has added an $8 surcharge.
According to a memo sent to district leaders from district food services Manager Judy Pinter, suppliers have said the prices are expected to continue rising due to continued inflation in the economy.
