Lawrence school board members on Monday will vote on whether to increase meal prices for the upcoming school year.
If approved, meal prices for 2026-27 will increase by 10 cents for breakfasts and 15 cents for lunches for students who pay full price.
Under the proposed increase, breakfasts would cost $2.20 for elementary students, $2.30 for middle schoolers and $2.35 for high schoolers, and lunches would cost $3.25, $3.45 and $3.50, respectively.
Reduced-price breakfasts and lunches will remain 30 cents and 40 cents, respectively, for all grades. Free meals will still be available for students who qualify.
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Adult breakfasts would increase to $3.20, and lunches would increase to $5.25.
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Administrators shared more information about the increasing costs of food service during the board’s May 26 meeting.
The district has increased meal prices in recent years, and the latest proposal is intended as a stopgap rather than a full solution. Administrators will continue looking at efficiencies, including possible new revenue streams and ways to preserve food quality while controlling costs, they told board members.
The district is providing free meals and meal kits this summer for all kids. Find more information in this article.
Centennial Choice Campus update
Board members will also hear an update on the Centennial Choice Campus.
The program, to be housed in the former Centennial Elementary building at 2145 Louisiana St., will open in August with one main goal: getting Lawrence high schoolers to graduate, one way or another, Superintendent Jeanice Swift has said. The program will be available to students looking for an adaptable learning environment. Read more in this article from January.
“The presentation will overview the features of the program, spotlight the students who may benefit from this offering, and highlight next steps in preparing for an August 2026 opening,” according to the meeting agenda.
Meeting info
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, June 8 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. Meetings are open to the public, livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@USD497, and broadcast on Midco channel 26.
This meeting is set to be the 12th in a row without general public comment on the agenda. The board hasn’t heard public comment since Nov. 17.
There were no executive sessions planned on the agenda as of Saturday afternoon.
See the full meeting agenda at this link. See ways to contact the school board at lawrencekstimes.com/contact-usd497bd.
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