12/1/2011 - DALLAS (AFNS) -- School lunch prices at all overseas Department of Defense Education Activity schools will increase starting Jan. 3, 2012, due to a new federal law and to keep pace with increasing food and operational costs, officials said.
The military services approved an increase in the price of school lunch at DODEA schools Nov. 10 in order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Public Law 111-296).
The act requires participants in the U.S. Department of Agriculture meal program to raise paid student lunch prices to a level comparable to the state subsidy rate used for USDA reimbursement.
"As the designated School Food Authority, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service provides school meals on a non-profit, break even basis," said Army Lt. Col. Thomas Shrader, an Exchange spokesman. "In order to keep pace with increasing food and operational costs, and to be compliant with this new law, school lunch prices will increase for the first time in seven years."
The new prices will be $2.40 for elementary students and $2.55 for secondary students. Families qualifying for the Free and Reduced Meal Program will not be impacted by the meal cost increases. The cost of a reduced-price meal will remain unchanged at 40 cents per meal.
Wholesome, balanced meals are vital to the academic achievement of school-aged children. The DoD School Meal Program meets the same USDA guidelines as CONUS schools by providing all of the important nutrients children need to be successful in school and healthy in the future.
For more information on free and reduced meal eligibility requirements, contact an installation School Liaison Officer.
For more information on menus and the Horizon MealPayPlus program, visit www.shopmyexchange.com.
(Courtesy of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.)
Comments
12/2/2011 5:05:20 PM ET Why in the middle ofthe school year?
