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Hillsborough School Lunch Cost To Increase 50 Cents

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By ADAM EMERSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

TAMPA - Families paying full price for school lunches in Hillsborough County will pay 50 cents more for each meal, a sign that the escalating costs of food nationwide have crept inside the schoolhouse door.

The Hillsborough County School Board raised the price of elementary school lunches from $1.75 to $2.25. Middle and high school lunches will cost $2.75, up from $2.25.

The board made the move reluctantly - two members voted against the increase - at its Tuesday meeting, during which it also strengthened the disclosure requirements of job applicants.

In light of the school district's recent teacher sex scandals, officials now will reject an application if they learn a prospective employee omitted a criminal background, even one that is sealed. If the transgression is discovered after the job is offered, the employee will be fired.

Stephanie Ragusa, the 29-year-old teacher charged with having sex repeatedly with two underage students, omitted her prior arrest record, which includes charges of driving under the influence and aggravated battery that were later dropped.

The district found out, but hired her anyway.

"We found some gaps in our application process, and we closed them," board member April Griffin said.

The meal price increase occupied much of the board's debate Tuesday. While members understood the need to raise costs - prices for milk, bread and produce are spiking - they worried about the affect such a steep one-year increase would have on families.

"This is one of those things you're darned if you do and darned if you don't," said board member Carol Kurdell, who voted for the increase.

The 50-cent increase applies to next school year. Future increases will be pegged to a consumer price index.

District administrators said the schools spent $1.6 million more on milk this year, a 33 percent increase over last year. The price of bread, which cost the district about $100,000 more this year than last, is expected to quadruple.

The district's push to healthy food also has led to higher costs. Hillsborough schools do not plan to revert to less healthful options, but it has tightened menu offerings.

Fresh fruit servings, for instance, are down to two days a week. Schools used to serve them every day but now serve mostly canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.

School officials also said that government subsidies have not kept pace. The cost of producing a lunch in Hillsborough is nearly $3. The federal government contributes an average 23 cents for each student paying full price for lunch.

Most board members understood these factors, but they urged school officials to soften the spike by ensuring that every child who qualifies also applies for a free or reduced price lunch.

Griffin said some qualified families may be too embarrassed to come forward and say they need help to cover the cost of meals. Schools in the district have had great success discreetly identifying families who need the help, she said.

She wanted the district to build on that success with other schools before raising prices. In a weakening economy, families are paying more for most staples, Griffin said. She voted against the increase. Board member Susan Valdes also voted no.

In other matters, the Osceola County School Board decided to wait two weeks before deciding whether to hire Hillsborough schools Assistant Superintendent Mike Grego as its district's next leader.

The Osceola board picked Grego in a 3-2 vote last week, and a final vote was due Tuesday. With two dissenters pressing for a candidate from Miami-Dade County, the board decided to discuss Grego's candidacy further.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285 or aemerson@tampatrib.com.

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