School lunch prices going up in the Decorah School District

School lunches in the Decorah School District will be more expensive next school year.

The price increase is the result of legislation passed by Congress--the Health, Hungry-Free Kids Act.  That bill specified that school lunches had to be increased to the federal reimbursement rate.

The federal government is paying $2.46 per meal.  Last school year school lunches in Decorah cost $1.85.

However, the Decorah School Board has decided to gradually phase in the increase--very gradually, in fact.  School lunch prices will go up 5 cents a year until the lunch price reaches the federal reimbursement rate.  That will take at least 11 years--assuming the reimbursement rate doesn't increase during that time.