Student, Can You Spare a Dime? Chippewa Meal Prices Increase

The price of lunch in Chippewa Valley Schools will increase 10 cents next school year, even as the district adds the option of free/reduced lunch to two more of its schools.

In order to comply with the USDA and state of Michigan, school districts must offer free or reduced lunches at schools where more than 20 percent of the enrollment meets eligibility requirements.

In Chippewa Valley, this is true for 11 schools: Clinton Valley Elementary, Cherokee Elementary, Erie Elementary, , Huron Elementary, Miami Elementary, , Ottawa Elementary, Algonquin Middle School, Wyandot Middle School and .

Having to add free/reduced meal programs to two more buildings this year, the district has reached an all-time high for students needing this program.

"I just know that this is just a sign of the times," said Ron Roberts, interim superintendent. "We have experienced an increase in the last few years of students on both free and reduced price lunch and it's really pretty much throughout the district. I would think that is reflective of the whole county."

However, in terms of districtwide prices, the price of lunch and a carton of milk has increased slightly over the 2010-11 scale. Lunch has increased 10 cents and milk 5 cents.

The 2011-12 prices are as follows: