Board raises meal prices, book fees
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
Parents will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets this fall when it comes time to pay for school meals and textbook fees.
At its monthly meeting Monday night, the USD 410 school board voted unanimously to increase breakfast and lunch prices for all age groups.
For students in kindergarten through fifth grade, the price of lunch goes up from $1.75 and $1.85 to $1.90. In sixth through 12th grades, the price increases from $2.10 to $2.25.
The biggest price increase will hit district staff. A price for a staff meal will go up 50 cents, from $2.50 to $3. Vistors' lunches will now be $3.50 instead of $3.
Breakfast prices will raise a quarter, from $1 to $1.25 for students. The new breakfast price for adults from $1.20 to $1.50.
Prices for reduced-cost meals will stay the same.
The reason for the increase? Last year, the district's meal program spent $24,507 than it took in. If the district didn't increase prices, the deficit would be $30,000 after the 2002-03 school year, said Superintendent Gordon Mohn.
But even before the increase, Hillsboro meals cost considerably more than meals at most surrounding schools. The next highest-priced meal in Marion County is Marion, with $1.85 for a high school lunch.
USD 410 hasn't raised meal prices since the 1998-99 school year.
The school board also voted to increase textbook rental fees. Fees for all grades will increase by $5.
Another financial increase the board pondered Monday night was the pay rate for substitute teachers.
After a unanimous vote, the board decided to raise the substitute teacher pay rate from $78 per day to $80 per day.
In other school board business:
— The district has three years to comply with a state fire marshal ruling to add more exits to the Robert C. Brown Gymnasium.
According to fire codes, the gym needs at least three more 36-inch exit doors to accommodate the maximum number of people that the gym can hold, which is 3,000.
In its current condition, fire codes would only allow 1,440 people in the gym.
Superintendent Mohn has already seen plans that would cost $120,000 to construct at least two more sets of outside doors right next to the current "main" entrance on A Street.
But another plan might make the gym more attractive and give it a better official entrance, some board members said.
"Do we want a 'bare bones' plan or do we want to do it right?" Mohn said.
Said board member Cal Jost, "I feel like we've never had a real front entrance."
Mohn agreed to pursue different architectural options for the gym's entrance.
— Jost was elected as president of the school board for the 2002-03 school year. He replaces Doug Weinbrenner, who served as president for the past two years.
— Eleven people have applied for a part-time teaching position available at the elementary school, according to Principal Pat Call. He has not begun the interview process yet.
The high school is also interviewing for two para-educator positions, said HHS Principal Dale Honeck.
