As one of their final decisions before adjourning for the summer, the Westford School Committee approved price increases on student lunches for the 2016-’17 School Year.
Westford School Department Director of Food Service Colleen Wallace told the committee that elementary school lunches will rise from $2.75 to $3.25 and middle school and Westford Academy lunches will rise from $3 to $3.50. The “special” lunch at Westford Academy will jump in price from $3.25 to $3.75.
Dessert prices will also rise by a nickel.
While Wallace told the committee that two-thirds of Westford students now purchase lunches on a an average day, she said that would not be enough to pay needed upcoming repairs for aging food service equipment.
Additionally, Wallace noted that preparation for the upcoming polystyrene ban set to begin on July 1, 2017 would also require a new influx of funding.
Westford School Department Superintendent Bill Olsen acknowledged that while the higher costs may depress participation, he still believed the prices were fair.
Additionally, he also noted that the price increases will allow the food service program to remain self-sustaining, avoiding the need to request capital funding from the town.
The request was approved 7-0-0, the School Committee is not expected to readjourn until August.
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