Another district opts out of the National School Lunch Program

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Fayetteville-Manlius has joined the list of school districts which have decided to opt out of the federal government's National School Lunch Program.

The F-M school board decided to drop the federal lunch program at the high school level only, said Michael Vespi, the district's assistant superintendent for business services. A drop in the number of high school students buying lunch and complaints about meager portions contributed to the decision, Vespi said.

F-M along with C. W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, Altmar Parish Williamstown and Manlius Pebble Hill schools have opted out of the program since the federal government implemented the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010. A growing number of school districts are forfeiting the federal reimbursement dollars as kids move away from buying lunch because they are dissatified with the food choices and portion sizes.

F-M High School will offer its own healthy food options when the change becomes effective on Sept. 21, Vespi said.This will mean a jump in lunch prices, however, as all items wlll be sold a la carte. A full lunch with milk is now $2.75. A panini, chips and drink purchased a la carte will run about $5.50, Vespi said

The district will still offer free and reduced lunches to students who qualify by subsidizing the cost itself.