Lunch prices in the Warren County R-III School District will increase by five cents for a second straight year in order to remain in compliance with state standards.The R-III school board approved the rate increase with a 4-0 vote during its monthly meeting July 14, with members John Bradshaw, Ginger Schenck and Laurie Wenzel all absent.Lunch prices for kindergarten through fifth grade will go from $2.60 to $2.65, with rates for sixth through 12th grade raising from $2.80 to $2.85.“DESE requires our district to charge a weighted average of $2.75 per paid lunch,” said a statement released by the district.“We are currently at $2.69 as a weighted average, based on our participation per building. We need to increase by $0.06 per paid lunch to meet this requirement. Increasing by $0.05 for the K-5 buildings and 6-12 buildings, we would meet our requirement for next year.”Director of Food Services Debbie Linke says she uses a formula supplied by the state to determine meal costs as each school year approaches.“DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) sends an equity tool,” explained Linke. “You have to fall within that formula in order for DESE to approve your lunch prices. We are right where we need to be at these rates.”Breakfast prices will remain the same at $1.50 for all grade levels.“Only 30 percent of students eat breakfast and DESE doesn’t have those same requirements on breakfast prices,” said Linke.She said the cost differential for lunch among grade levels is based upon quantities, with larger portions and more options being offered to students in sixth through 12th grade.Presently, Linke says between 52 and 54 percent of students in the district receive free and reduced lunch prices. Food DistributorR-III decided to retain its already existing food distributors, as bids were awarded during the July 14 meeting.Kohl Distributing was awarded the contract as the food supplier, beating out Moore Foods.The district decided to continue using Siedhoff as its milk supplier and maintained Sara Lee as its bread provider.“They are all very good vendors and came in with the lowest bids,” said Linke.School lunch