To combat rising food and labor costs, Leon County Schools will begin charging up to a dollar more for student meals.
The Board voted unanimously on Tuesday, July 9, to increase meal prices for the 2024-2025 school year.
“Due to the significant increase in food and labor costs over the last several years, Dining Services is requesting a price adjustment to student meal prices,” the district said.
![Leon County School Board meeting. The school board approved the adjustment to student meal prices. July 8, 2024 (Leon County Schools)](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/533e2fc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/750x412+0+0/resize/880x483!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fee%2Fb5%2F3cf251fc43f1a21bd447d735f628%2Fimg-2928.jpeg)
The price change will not affect the 36 LCS schools that serve free meals under the Community Eligibility Program.
Additionally, the price charged to students approved for Reduced-Price lunch will remain the same as in prior years, $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch.
![Leon County Schools meal prices](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed26d5a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1388x645+0+0/resize/880x409!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F11%2F9e%2F81d827264ec981c72e880ae8b3ad%2Fimg-2929.jpeg)
Non-participating schools can expect K-12 students to pay $0.75 more for breakfast and lunch. With middle and high schoolers seeing a $1 increase for breakfast.
The policy takes effect once students return on August 12, 2024.