After much debate, the Williamsburg-James City County School Board on Tuesday approved a student meal price increase for the 2022-2023 school year.
Lunch prices will increase by 35 cents in elementary and middle schools, and lunch will cost 40 cents more in high schools. Breakfast will increase by 25 cents for all levels.
“Because we are on the National School Lunch Program, we have to abide by a tool they provide us, which is called the PLE tool,” said WJCC Senior Director for Operations Marcellus Snipes. “Because we have charged less than the targeted average lunch price of $3.09 per paid lunches in 2019 and 2020, we must adjust our weighted average lunch price.”
WJCC weighted average lunch price was $2.82 for the 2021-2022 school year.
This will be the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that federal funding will not be available for free school lunches.
Without this increase, schools wouldn’t get reimbursement for kids enrolled in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program.
“This is something that concerns me every year because we do know it has a real impact on people’s pocket books,” said board member Kyra Cook.
Five of the 16 schools are unaffected, including Matthew Whaley Elementary, James River Elementary, Norge Elementary, Laura Lane Elementary and James Blair Middle School.
All five developed a Community Eligibility Provision, which means all students can eat for free. Last year, there were only two schools in the program.
To create Community Eligibility Provisions for the remaining 11 schools, money from the local area is needed.
Snipes offered statistics of students eating non-free lunches in 2019 against the free lunches in 2021:
45% of elementary school students ate lunch in October of 2019. Last year, it was 61%.
39% of middle school students ate lunch in October of 2019. Last year, it was 53%.
15% of high school students ate lunch in October of 2019. Last year, it was 37%.
Both Cook and board member Sandra S. Young want the effected schools to keep tabs on the price’s impact. From this data, the board can decide if lunches need to be subsidized at the local level.
Families are encouraged to submit a Free or Reduced-Price Meal application for financial support. The Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines for 2022-2023 are located on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official website. There is no deadline; all can apply at anytime.
For more information on the program’s criteria, call 757-565-3838.
In other news
User Upload Caption: W-JCC’s School Health Initiative Program, also known as SHIP, won the Virginia School Boards Association’s Food for Thought Competition in the Wellness and Physical category. Courtesy of W-JCC Schools
WJCC’s School Health Initiative Program, also known as SHIP, won the Virginia School Boards Association’s Food for Thought Competition in the Wellness and Physical category.
Through the guidance of SHIP supervisor Dr. Amy Lazev and SHIP coordinator Janice Kailos, over 21,692 hours of wellness were completed by WJCC staff members.
WJCC School Board Parliamentarian Julie Y. Hummel was ecstatic to recognize this achievement.
“Congratulations to the entire SHIP team for such an outstanding accomplishment,” Hummel said. “The challenges included staff from every school and building, including 264 individuals participating in one challenge and 484 in the other.”
With school starting Aug. 29, Superintendent Olwen Herron announced 169 new teachers are joining the public-school system’s staff.
“We look forward to a wonderful year, and WJCC Schools can’t wait to get started,” Dr. Herron said.
Lastly, the board approved a contract for elementary schools to gain new online mathematic programs. This will cost more than $100,000 over the course of a six-year contract.
“The RFP was designed to identify Tier I adaptive online mathematics programs for grades K-5 students,” the agenda read. “The ideal program will provide opportunities for enrichment for all students.”
The program will have personalized learning experiences for “general education students, special education students and multilingual learners.”
Vice Chair James W. Beers is excited for the upcoming school year.
“It’s a challenging time, but it’s also an exciting time. Kids are excited, and parents are relieved that they will be going back to school,” Dr. Beers said with a chuckle.
The next regular WJCC School Board meeting is Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the James Blair Middle School Gymnasium.
Abbey Crank, abbey.crank@virginiamedia.com
