DERRY — School lunch prices will be going up a nickel per meal next year.

School Business Director Jane Simard recently announced the increase and said it will help the district stay in line with new federal guidelines for both the free and reduced lunch program and nutritional standards.

Next year, lunches will be $2.20 in the elementary schools and $2.40 in the middle schools, for an overall increase of about $9 per student for the year.

“Because the federal government feels that it is reimbursing districts for their free meals at a cost of about $2.72, districts eventually have to start charging what the federal government is reimbursing,” said Simard. “The government has a formula that we had for last year that established increments and requested that the increases be no more than 5 cents per year so it would have a lower impact on parents and students.”

This year's government formula was supposed to be released several months ago but has yet to see the light of day, Simard said.

“We were waiting as long as we could for the formula to come out,” she said. “Once it does come out, we will come to the School Board to let you know where we are in terms of the increase.”

In addition to meeting the guidelines for the free lunch reimbursements, Simard said there are also new nutritional guidelines that call for smaller portion sizes with more fruits and vegetables and fewer carbohydrates, proteins and sugars.

“There will be a cost increase, so the extra 5 cents will help increase the revenue,” said Simard. She said the district works hard to keep the school lunch program self-funded.

Board member Dan McKenna said the 5-cent increase this year should help decrease the need for larger annual increases in the future.

“We're trying to avoid being in a place where in a year or two we will have to have an increase of 10 or 15 cents or risk losing our refunds,” he said.

In addition to the increase in lunch prices, there will be a 5-cent increase in breakfast prices for the 2012-13 school year.

“The price for breakfast has not increased in about 10 years,” Simard said.

She said the increase keeps the district in line with other school districts in the state that offer breakfast.

Breakfast will be $1.30 at the elementary and middle schools next year.

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Adam Swift may be reached at aswift@newstote.com.