April 27, 2017 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Resource Management & Business Operations Committee Meeting

Pursuant to Board of Education Policy, the following tuition rates for non-resident students attending Bethel Public Schools are recommended:

                                    2014/2015       2015/2016       2016/2017       2017/2018       % Increase

Elem/Middle                $11,923           $12,165           $12,342           $12,543           1.63%

High School                $13,756           $14,035           $14,240           $14,472           1.63%

These tuition rates do not include transportation.  Additionally, Special Education rates will be calculated as needed based on the costs of a specific program with related services.

Importance of this topic to the Board: Important

Key Points of the Briefing:

* Raising student lunch prices a modest amount at all schools ($.05).  Elementary will be $2.80 insuring that the district meets the minimum required Paid Equity by the USDA and Middle School and High School will be $3.20.  All student lunch prices include milk.

* Raising all school breakfast prices by $.05 to $2.25.

* Bethel’s prices are very similar to other school districts in this area and across the state.

Summary of the Briefing:

1. To raise the school meal prices at slightly less than inflation rates to cover increases in labor and food costs and continue to have the school lunch program run at or above break-even. 
2. To set the price for reduced priced breakfast at $0.00 instead of 30 cents for the year 2017-2018.  This will continue to encourage participation in the breakfast program and insure that our neediest students are fed each morning.  The cost to the board should be less than $2,000.  This year we are on pace to serve 5,900 reduced-priced breakfasts.

Certification Program for many years.  By participating, Bethel can only serve snacks and a la carte items that specifically have been approved by the CSDE Bureau of Health & Nutrition.  Each year we report to the CSDE each and every a la carte/snack item that we serve in our schools and it is checked against the approved list.  The CSDE has been pleased with our adherence to the law.

For participation the District receives an additional 10 cents reimbursement from the State on each meal served.  This is important as with the choices of snack items limited, the revenue has dipped. The additional 10 cents has kept us on track.

First the BOE must choose whether to renew its participation in this program and second, the BOE has to choose to renew its allowance of the exception of items not on the CSDE list when sold after school at events.