By J. Graber
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After eight years at the same rate, the cost of meals served by the Scottsdale Unified School District to students is going up next year.

The district governing board approved by a 4-0 vote increasing prices between 30% and 60% for breakfasts and lunches. Governing Board Member Dr. Matthew Pittinsky abstained from the vote.

Exactly how much a student meal will cost now depends on a number of factors including the grade of the student and whether the meal is breakfast or lunch.

The smallest increase is middle school and high school breakfasts, which will increase from $1.75 to $2.50.

The largest increase will be in lunches in middle school and high school. Lunch was previously $3.10 but will jump in price to $3.95, $4.50 or $4.95, depending on which entree a student chooses that day.

“We’re kind of excited about the secondary (school) lunch,” district Nutrition Services Director Patti Bilbrey said. “We kind of looked at ways to still keep some of our premium items, our Blue Zones items, our fan favorites from our kids, like a western bacon cheeseburger - all healthy by the way ... Now keep in mind that if a student is on a free or reduced lunch (program), he can select from any of those meal tiers and not have to pay anything.”

Students on a reduced cost meal plan in Arizona get meals for free because the state pays for whatever cost the federal government does not.

The nutrition services department is self-funded, using only money it receives for meals to pay for operations but the cost of food, other supplies and labor accounts for the need for the increases, Bilbrey said.

“Things are skyrocketing and they’re going through the roof,” Bilbrey said.

The new prices are expected to raise an additional $801,000 per year, which should avoid the need to raise prices again for the next few years.
Students on free and reduced meal programs will not be affected by the price increase.

There will continue to be free meals at Coronado High School, Tonalea Middle School and Hohokam and Yavapai elementary schools.

Likewise, free breakfasts will continue to be served at Navajo, Pima and Tavan elementary schools.

Pittinsky expressed concerned about how much of a jump the meal prices are going up all at once.

“It’s a really big increase to absorb in a single year,” he said.

Bilbrey said the plan moving forward is to hold prices the same the next for next few years before increasing them by much lower increments after that.

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