By Carolyn Cole
Published on June 28, 2008

Parents will pay 30 cents more per meal for their children to eat in Mustang school cafeterias this fall.

Mustang School Board members approved the increase Wednesday night after school officials reported skyrocketing food prices and fuel costs are eating away at the Child Nutrition Department’s bottom line.

Finance Director Kay Medcalf reported the district’s child nutrition fund is expected to finish the fiscal year with a $488,000 carryover, or $212,000 less than last year. She said officials expected a small hit after hiring new staff to open Mustang Centennial Elementary but couldn’t foresee food companies passing on their higher fuel prices in $150-per-month delivery surcharges.

“We are not even looking to recoup it by all means in one year, but we can’t continue to take a $212,000 drop,” she said. “We wouldn’t have any money to operate with.”

Board members approved increasing student breakfast prices from $1 to $1.30 and adult breakfast prices from $1.25 to $1.55. The price for a 4-ounce carton of milk is now 35 cents, an increase of 5 cents.
Lunch prices at elementary schools will increase from $1.60 to $1.90. Middle school students will pay $2.10 for lunch, up from $1.80.

Mustang High School and Mustang Mid-High students buying lunch in the main line will pay $2.30, up from $2.

Teachers and other adults will pay $2.80 for lunch, up from $2.50.

Prices for some a la carte line items offered at middle and high schools will also increase. Subway and Chick-Fil-A sandwiches will now cost $3, representing a 15-cent and 25-cent price increase from the companies. The price for a slice of Pizza Hut pizza will remain $1.25.

Prices offered to students qualifying for the federal free or reduced lunch program will remain the same. Students on the reduced plan pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. The district receives $2.40 in federal funds for each free meal served, $2 for each reduced-price meal and 23 cents for paid meals. About a quarter of Mustang students qualify for the federal lunch program.

Board member Dona Zanotti asked if officials considered putting a heavier burden on adults’ cafeteria prices and lessening the increase for students.

Child Nutrition Director Tammy Bales said she staved off raising prices as long as she could, and for the last two years, officials tried to recoup costs by raising prices on a la carte items.

“It costs us $2.30 to make the meals, so even at this price this doesn’t cover it, but it will help,” she said.

Neighboring school districts Deer Creek and Norman are among dozens of Oklahoma school systems that have raised their cafeteria rates recently. Earlier this month Oklahoma City School District approved a three-year plan to raise rates to between $1.95 to $2.85 depending on the school site. Their officials reported an average among Oklahoma City districts ranging between $1.75 for breakfast and $2.53 for high school lunches for the 2007-2008 school year.

“I see it from all over the United States,” Bales said. “It’s something most school districts are doing. This will keep us right in the middle of the road.”

Mustang School District officials raised cafeteria rates in the 2005-2006 school year to deal with a surge in fuel prices. At that time elementary lunch prices increased by 15 cents, middle school lunch prices by 25 cents and mid-high and high school prices by 35 cents.

The board also approved a low bid from Sysco for $259,700 to supply the majority of food for Mustang’s cafeterias for the first semester. The price includes $1,250 in fuel surcharges.

Bales said before fuel prices skyrocketed, the district could pick and choose items between vendors and use several companies. Now, she said it isn’t profitable for companies to make as many stops, so school officials must choose one prime vendor.

“The smaller companies are not even bidding,” Bales said, adding most can’t afford to make an additional trip.

The board also approved bids from Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A and Subway to provide a la carte items for secondary school lunches.

Bales said pizza will be scaled back in the Mustang High School cafeteria and will be offered three days per week instead of five days per week. Pizza will be offered at Mustang Mid-High and the middle schools two days per week. The pizzas are made with low-fat cheese, and students are offered cheese, pepperoni and Canadian bacon.

Zanotti asked if fast food could be taken out of school cafeterias entirely, adding she believes offering it at all sets a poor example for students.

“I think we would have a revolt, I really do,” Bales said.

The same reason was given when Oklahoma school districts switched to diet sodas, fruit juices and water in vending machines, Zanotti said, adding she saw no uprising.

Bales said the district’s cafeteria workers offer healthier food options, such as salad bars, homemade calazones and rice bowls.

“We do sneak in a lot of things that they don’t realize (are healthy),” Bales said.

“We don’t want to slide it in,” Zanotti said, adding students need to learn to eat healthy to help reverse climbing childhood obesity rates in Oklahoma.

Board Clerk Curtis Brewer asked if MHS cafeteria could handle the volume of students eating lunch if these fast food vending contracts weren’t approved.

“It would take a new cafeteria,” Bales said, and additional staff.

MSD Superintendent Karl Springer told board members the high school’s cafeteria is being scrutinized as part of a study of the campus’ needs. Principal Terry Tipton has reported a need for a cafeteria that can seat 1,000 students, and Springer said a new facility or remodeling the existing facility could be a project included in a spring bond election.

The board also approved low bids from Flowers Baking Company at $18,217, Hiland Dairy Foods at $233,310, Vinyard’s Vegetable and Fruits for produce and Oswalt Restaurant Supply for small equipment for school cafeterias.