2026-27 Meal Prices Report | Board Meeting Clip | May 26, 2026

The Lawrence Public Schools Board held a meeting on May 26, 2026, to discuss the 2026-27 meal prices and the financial status of the district's food and nutrition services. The discussion focused on the challenges posed by rising food costs and the need to increase meal prices to maintain the program's financial health without impacting the general fund, which supports core instructional activities. The board was presented with a proposal to increase lunch prices by 15 cents and breakfast prices by 10 cents, aimed at reducing the current deficit in the food service fund, which operates on a $6 million annual budget and serves over a million meals per year. The board was not asked to take immediate action but was encouraged to consider the proposal and provide feedback before a decision at the next meeting. Additional topics included federal reimbursement rates, the impact of local food purchasing, and strategies to encourage more families to apply for free and reduced-price meals to increase federal funding. The discussion highlighted the ongoing financial challenges and the need for a strategic plan to address the food service fund's sustainability.