School meal prices will increase

By Scott Nicholson

School meals will increase next year under a plan approved by the Watauga County Board of Education Monday night.

School lunch prices for students will increase by 15 cents, with grades pre-K through 3 moving to $1.95, grades 4 to 8 to $2.05. Grades 9-12 to $2.20 and adult prices to $3.25. Elementary school breakfast prices will increase to $1.20, high school breakfast will increase to $1.50, and adult breakfast will increase to $1.75. After-school snack will increase by a nickel, to 85 cents.

School nutrition director Susan Trivette said there was a 3 percent increase from the food supplier and, with the beverage contract in a bid process, the system was facing its first beverage increase in five years. “I really feel it (food) will be a 3 percent increase, if not more,” Trivette said. With the same number of lunches served per month as were sold during February, it would generate $39,000 for the next fiscal year.

Trivette said meals had been analyzed for nutritional content, carbohydrates, and other health measures. She said if participation increased and prices slightly increased, the lunch program would be soon self-sufficient.

School board chairman Lowell Younce said a higher price might lead to fewer students eating lunch. he said he didn’t mind if the system had to invest a little more money in the program because it was important to provide what might be the child’s best meal of the day.

Younce said a nutritious meal was one of the big factors in children receiving a good education and said he was concerned about regular increases. Trivette said it was the second increase in seven years and was comparable to the prices of other school districts.

Trivette said meals were designed to be appealing, though she was concerned because of the potential for fewer lunch sales and the state of the economy. She said about a third of all students ate school lunches, which she said had increased since last year but had declined overall in recent years. She also hoped students eligible for free and reduced-priced lunch would apply so more students would qualify and increase matching funds.

School board member Steve Combs said he had always encouraged running the lunch program as a business, with more offerings to generate revenue.

The school board unanimously approved the proposed increases.

Program participants in FBLA, FCCLA, Cosmetology, Governor’s School, DECA, Teaching Fellows. SkillsUSA Auto Technology Competition and bus driver awards were recognized. The Wiley Tester Memorial Award, named after a late bus driver, was given to Marie Bumgarner by school transportation director Toni Floyd.

Student Awards

The following students and programs were recognized by the Watauga County Board of Education during Monday night’s meeting:

Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) students placed in the top ten at the State HOSA Competition.

Debin Warren - 1st Place Dental Assisting
Cameron Carlson - 2nd Place Clinical Specialty
Robert Warren - 3rd Place Medical Math
Sabrina Daughtry - 4th Place Dental Assisting
Emily Alford - 5th Place Dental Spelling
Cody Snyder- 7th Place Dental Spelling
Krista Pearson - 7th Place Dental Assisting
Sarah Eggers - Top 10 Medical Photography
Watauga High School’s Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) received an award for Gold Level Chapters of Distinction and Chapter Membership. Individual and team winners include:
Jenny Church and Ethan Rector (Business Law & Ethics Management Team): State Finalists
Michael Fox (Business Services Marketing): Top 10 Exam Score, Top 10 score in DECA Quiz Bowl, top score in free enterprise recognition testing
Katy Cook (Buying & Merchandising Management Team): Top 10 Exam Score
Katie Tester and Nick Presnell (Hospitality Services Management Team): Top Case Study, 4th Place State Winner
Kyra Hoskins (Hotel & Lodging Management): Top Role Play Score, 3rd Place State Winner
Daniel Villanova (Marketing Management): Top Exam Score, 1st Place State Winner, top score in marketing fundamentals recognition testing, top ten score in DECA Quiz Bowl
Rahne Avant (Marketing Management): State Finalist
Melissa Watkins (Restaurant & Food Service Management): Top Exam Score, State Finalist
Ian Turnbow (Sports & Entertainment Marketing): Top Role Play Score
Jake DuVernois (Sports & Entertainment Marketing Management Team): Top 10 Exam Score
Tucker Isaacs & TJ Thompson (Sports & Entertainment Marketing Management Team): State Finalist
Hillary Prevost (Travel & Tourism Marketing Management Team): Top 10 Exam Score
Hillary Prevost and Ethan Woodring (Travel & Tourism Marketing Management Team): State finalist
Daniel Villanova, Michael Fox, Davis Roberts and Jake DuVernois (Quiz Bowl): 2nd Place in the first round
Daniel Villanova, Nick Presnell, Katie Tester, Ethan Rector, Hillary Prevost, Jenny Church and Tucker Isaacs all competed in Anaheim, Cal. at DECA’s International Career Development Conference. Daniel Villanova won a medal for a top exam score at the international level.