May 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Resource Management & Business Operations Committee Meeting

• CSDE requires annual certification by the Board of Education for participation in the Healthy Foods Certification Program
• In participating, Bethel can only serve beverages, foods, snacks and a la carte items that have been specifically approved by the CSDE.
• For participation, the District receives and additional 10 cents reimbursement from the State on each meal served. This is important to the financial success of our program.

Key Points of the Briefing:    

1. To raise the school lunch prices to cover increases in labor and food costs and continue to have the school lunch program run at or above break-even and to meet the USDA Paid Lunch Equity requirements. Proposal: Raise student lunch prices by $0.15 at all schools.  Elementary will be $3.40 and Middle School and High School will be $3.75. These increases will help the district to comply with the Paid Lunch Equity requirements set by the CSDE and USDA.  Breakfast at all schools will remain at $2.50 for all students. All student meals include a milk option. Adult meal prices also need to comply with CSDE guidelines, therefore, Adult lunch will increase to $5.25 and Adult breakfast will increase to $3.75. Adult meals do not include a beverage.

2. To set the price for reduced priced breakfast at $0.00 instead of $0.30 for the year 2025-2026.  This will continue to encourage participation in the breakfast program and ensure that our neediest students are fed each morning.  The cost to the board should be less than $3,000. 

3. Action Requested of the Board of Education: Motion needed.

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

                         2023/2024       2024/2025     2025/2026     % Increase

Elem/Middle     $15,064           $15,514          $16,541         6.62%

High School      $17,381           $17,900          $19,085        6.62%

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.  The Special Education costs are not discounted.