EUGENE, Mo. - The Cole R-5 School District in Eugene will see an increase in breakfast and lunch prices beginning Aug. 15.
The school board approved the increases at its May 15 meeting.
Superintendent Dawna Burrow said the district needed the increases due to state mandates.
"The goal of the state is that our paid lunch prices end up being the same amount as what we get paid for a free lunch," Burrow said.
The district tries to keep prices manageable for parents, she added.
"The state has mandated that if we are not equal to that amount - that free lunch paid amount then we have to raise our lunch prices every year."
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires a raise of at least 10 cents when schools don't meet the requirements.
Burrow said the district has had to raise prices for several years. The 2018-19 lunch prices were $2.25 for kindergarten through fifth grade, $2.50 for sixth through 12th grade and $3 for staff.
Breakfast costs were $1.30 for students and $1.35 for staff.
The board approved an overall 15-cent lunch raise, which Burrow proposed with hopes of not raising prices in 2020.
For 2019-20, the lunch prices are $2.30 for kindergarten through fifth grade, $2.60 for sixth through 12th grade and $3 for staff.
Board members also approved a 20-cent student breakfast increase to $1.50 and a 40-cent staff breakfast increase to $1.75.
"That's pretty cheap," Burrow said. "You're not going to really be able to eat a full breakfast for a $1.50. You might get a sandwich somewhere or something like that, but you're not going to get a full breakfast."
Middle and high school students also have the option to purchase additional a la carte, or separately priced, snacks and beverages.
In other business at the meeting, the board:
Approved relocating public meetings to the high school cafeteria beginning 6 p.m. June 19.
Discussed locations for an ADA-compliant restroom in the high school.