Hopkinton Schools Consider Lunch, Breakfast Price Increases

The Hopkinton School Committee in August is expected to discuss whether to increase the price of school lunches and breakfasts for the first time in two years.

The possibility of an increase is on the table because the district's lunch program — carried out by a private contractor — is only expected to break even next school year without a price increase. The program had declining purchases this past school year, according to Joe Armenti, of New York-based Whitsons School Nutrition, which resulted in a dip in revenue. 

He said the company has several initiatives planned for the coming year to bolster sales, including offering more ala carte items and chef visits.

A three-month reserve for a food service program is recommended by the national School Lunch Program, said the Hopkinton Schools' Director of Finance, Ralph Dumas. "We may have three weeks' buffer," he said.

Either a price increase or a rise in sales will be needed to do more than break even.

School Committee members said they had concerns about voting on a school meal price increase at the meeting last week, which was not televised. And several members said they wanted more information, including what the prices are for school meals in comparable districts.

The School Committee did approve unanimously a contract renewal for Whitsons School Nutrition, one of the largest school food service companies in the U.S.

The price increase discussion will be put on the committee's Aug. 8 agenda.