Raising lunch prices and confirming the annual Truth in Taxation hearing were discussed during Monday’s brief school board meeting.

Austin Public School officials voted to increase lunch prices by 10 cents.

Despite a healthy fund balance, the increases were needed to keep “up to pace” with federal requirements, according to Mike Stotts, finance and operations director.

The school board voted  7-1 on increasing menu prices as followed: Preschool to fourth grade students would see an increase from $2.30 to $2.40; fifth grade to eighth grade from $2.40 to $2.50; and high school students would see an increase from $2.50 to $2.60. The free breakfast program remained the same.

“This recommendation was made to keep pace with the federal requirement,” Stotts explained to the board. “If we don’t address it now, it would have been a lot more the next year.”

School meal programs are reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each meal that’s served, according to the  School Nutrition Association. School meal prices vary differently across the country, and prices are set by local school districts with school board oversight. The cost to produce school meals are also different from one community to another, because of regional variations in food, labor and fuel expenses, and also local differences in school equipment, infrastructure, contract agreements, and more.

Among other items discussed during the meeting:

Truth in Taxation hearing

The Austin School Board approved the date of the annual Truth in Taxation hearing for 6 p.m. on Sept. 16. This will take place during a regularly scheduled school board session.

Assurance Scholarship Program

After the news broke regarding the Assurance Scholarship Program that would essentially allow seniors from the class of 2019 and are graduating from Austin High School and Pacelli Catholic Schools and attend Riverland Community College debt-free, Superintendent Krenz shared that the response was overwhelmingly positive, and the district worked to establish a structure for the oversight committee moving forward.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from across the state,” Krenz said. “Parents really are excited … the hard work is just starting.”

Informational session for school board elections

Officials also reminded the public that the informational session regarding school board elections was set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11 in the district office.

The filing period to run for school board will open on July 31 and run through Aug. 14.

The session will address questions or concerns, and provide information about commitments a prospective board member could expect.

Four seats are up for election.