By Heather Graves
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – Students who purchase lunch at any school in the Green Bay Area Public School District will see a slight increase in the upcoming school year.
The school board voted at its special meeting Monday, Aug. 5, to raise the price of its meals by a 5 cents 6-1.
Lynette Zalec, food service director for the district, proposed the increase to breakfast and lunch meals to keep up with growing costs and changing trends.
She said increase will help support new food items, biodegradable and reusable lunch trays, breakfast in the classroom options, food kiosks and grab-and-go meals, among others.
“There is a stigma of going to the cafeteria – we have to change that,” Zalec said.
The approved change increases breakfast costs from $1.85 to $1.90. Elementary lunch prices increase from $2.65 to $2.70, and middle and high school-level prices increase from $2.95 to $3. Adult meal prices also increased by 5 cents to $3.70.
Board member Kristina Shelton voted in favor of the increase and said she believes the increase sets the district up for success.
“I think investment in our food service across the board is critical,” Shelton said. “I would challenge every board member up here, if you haven’t gone to a school cafeteria in one of our schools and have lunch, you should do that. I do recognize that the increase will be significant for some families – so that is not insignificant. The feedback I have gotten from community members is that people were supportive of the increase, if they felt as though it was going to support the expansion and sustainability of food service.”
Board member Rhonda Sitnikau voted against the increase, saying there are other opportunities the district should be exploring to create more revenue.
“We keep saying it’s 5 cents, but cents adds up – per meal, per day, per student, per multiple students, per month – so we know it’s not just 5 cents, its bigger than that,” Sitnikau said. “What could we be doing, so we don’t have to increase? I know there are opportunities we can be looking at.”
The price increase does not impact kids who receive free or reduced lunch.
The new prices go into effect at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year.
Staff hires and transfers
Board members approved the hiring of Janay Banks-Wilson as principal at Tank Elementary.
Banks-Wilson comes to the district from Beloit.
The school board also approved the transfer of Matt Heller from principal of Nicolet Elementary School to associate principal at East High School, effective Aug. 6.
The transfer of Angela Sanderfoot McNabb from school psychologist – southwest quadrant evaluation to supervisor of special education was also approved by the board, effective Aug. 6.