Scott City school meal program lost $37,000, superintendent says

Southeast Missourian

At a Scott City School Board meeting Tuesday, superintendent Brian Lee said the district lost more than $37,000 for its meal program last year — a difference of nearly $40,000 from the previous fiscal year. In the 2013-2014 school year, the district made about $1,700 on the school meal program, he said. But in the 2014-2015 school year, the district lost $37,377. The district renewed its contract with OPAA! Food Management in February. Lee said the number of meals sold declined last year; however, the amount of money paid to OPAA went up. Lee said one reason a district uses an outside source for its food program is so it is not subject to fluctuations in the number of meals sold. Lee wants to talk to other districts that use outside agencies to see whether they’ve encountered similar experiences. He plans to give an update to the school board at its next board meeting Aug. 19. The board voted Tuesday to raise breakfast and lunch prices by 5 cents, because its next meeting is scheduled after classes begin. With the price increases, breakfast for students in kindergarten through fourth-grade will be $1.20, and lunch will be $1.80. For students in grades five through 12, breakfast will cost $1.20, and lunch will be $1.90. Adult breakfast will be $1.35, and lunch will cost $2.15. The cost of reduced-price breakfasts and lunches, at 30 cents and 40 cents, will not change.