White BOE Increases HS Meal Prices Starting Next School Year

The White County School Board has increased high school meal prices to better align with surrounding districts.

Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the new prices will go into effect next year but will be applied incrementally over 2 years.

“Our prices are much cheaper than those around the Upper Cumberland, and we’ve just tried to protect our families and honor them we’ve tried to keep that off,” Dronebarger said. “But with the ongoing inflation and the cost of travel and transportation logistics, it’s necessary for us to stay above water.”

Dronebarger said next school year, school lunches will go up by 45 cents and breakfast by 25 cents. Dronebarger said the same increase will happen once more the following year, making a total increase of 90 cents for lunch and 50 cents for breakfast.

“We’re among the lowest if we don’t make a change and it’s just getting to the point that we can’t stay in the positive column if we don’t make some changes,” Dronebarger said. “We understand that is going to be hard for our families, but we wanted to make sure we get that information out now so they can prepare.”

School Board Chair Jayson McDonald said high school lunches would go from $1.60 to $2.50. Meals for grades under the high school are still free for those who are eligible.

Dronebarger said that White County Schools’ meal prices would be about average compared to the region. Dronebarger said the price changes were based on a study conducted by the system’s nutrition staff.