Cyndi Loza

Officials on Monday asked for a 25-cent increase for breakfast and lunch at Washoe County schools, citing higher costs in food and fuel as the reason.

“We’re just trying to keep with increasing costs of our suppliers, raw ingredients, the labor and … just about everything out there that you see going up,” said Mike Supple, district co-director of nutrition services.

Nationwide, the average cost of preparing and serving a school lunch is $2.70 to $3.10, according to the School Nutrition Association Web site.

The cost of a school lunch in Washoe is $2.25 at elementary schools, $2.50 at middle and high schools. Breakfast is $1.25 for all schools. The school district receives $2.49 per meal for every student that qualifies for free or reduced lunch, about 33 percent of enrollment.

“With the way things have risen this year, what we get is not keeping up with what we’re being charged,” Supple said.

The increase takes effect July 1 if the plan is approved by the board of trustees May 27.

“I’m glad to hear it’s only a quarter, to be honest with you,” said Julie Duewel, 44, of Reno. “I’d almost expect it to be more.”

Duewel has three children in school and encourages them to pack a lunch at least twice a week to ensure a healthy meal and because they do not qualify for free or reduced lunch.

“Not that money isn’t tight,” Duewel said. “They just don’t qualify.”

If the cost of lunch is increased, she said she anticipates her children will be packing more lunches.

Washoe County is not the only district facing an increase in school meals.

Denise Higgins, supervisor of the Douglas County School District nutrition program, said her department will propose a 25-cent increase for lunch and breakfast at a school board meeting May 21.

“It’s just that everything is going up,” Higgins said. “Our expenses are more than our revenue, and that’s the real bottom line.”

A Douglas school lunch costs $2.25 at elementary schools, $2.50 at middle schools and $2.75 at high schools. Breakfast is $1.25 for all schools.

“When you think about it, that’s a pretty low price for a meal,” Higgins said. “If you go out to a restaurant, you wouldn’t be able to get a meal at that price.”

Some students and parents have felt the economic pinch, Towles Principal Shirley Woods said.

“Food is going up, people are eating out less, children are packing their lunches,” said Woods, adding that about a third of Towles students bring lunches from home. “It’s a whole life circle.”

She said she noticed Towles students often want to buy milk but cannot afford the 75 cents.

“Kids need milk to drink,” Woods said. “So, we give it them on credit, and then they pay us later.”