HPC board sets meal prices for 2024-25

The High Plains school board approved increased meal prices for the 2024-25 school year at its regular meeting Monday night. 
The increase comes as Supt. Kim Beran reported the school attempts to keep pace with rising food prices.
In most prices, categories will see a 40-cent jump from the previous school year, which was voted on by the board as the lower-end of proposed increases.
Approved meal prices were as follows: K-12 breakfast was approved at $2.40; Adult breakfast $2.80; K-6 lunch, $3.40; 7-12 lunch, $3.50; Seconds, $1.50; Adult lunch, $4.50; Adult salad bar, $4.50; Milk/juice, $0.65; reduced lunch, $0.40; reduced breakfast, $0.30. 
Beran shared with the board that in order for the meal fund to fund itself, prices would have needed to be increased further, but both Beran and the board agreed that would be too much of a price hike. 
“I think this is a good place to be knowing we will probably have to put a little money into it,” board president Shane Van Pelt said. 
“We want to be cost effective but fair to families,” Beran added. 
The board also approved a slight increase in substitute pay as well as the district calendar for the upcoming school year. 
Beran shared with the board that HPC’s substitute pay rates are very competitive with surrounding schools. 
The daily rate for subs was approved for $155 and includes three days off without starting over the long-term rate, which kicks in after nine days. The long-term rate is 1/185 of the base rate pay. 
As far as the district calendar goes, there were minimal changes. The first day of school is set for Aug. 14 and the last day is May 15.
One of the small changes was allowing more snow day hours based upon recent trends the past few years.
“It’s much easier to plan the hours in there as opposed to scrambling to make up time later,” elementary principal Bre Helgoth shared. 
The board also approved multiple repair items at the Clarks site, including a small roof repair for $2,600. Those repairs are expected to be enough before updating the roof completely next summer. 
Not only that, but the board approved three repair items inside, including the boys and girls locker rooms as well as the first and second grade bathroom. The three projects combined will cost $12,416. 
June was the final monthly meeting for Beran, who leaves her HPC post June 30. Jason Brown will officially take over July 1.
Brown is transitioning from Bertrand Community School while Beran is leaving for Elm Creek in the same position.