PA district starts tiered lunch program at secondary schools

LAMPETER, Pa.—Lampeter-Strasburg students will have more lunch choices when school begins Aug. 25, although the added variety will come with an added cost.

Some "regular" lunch prices have also increased as the district reviewed its pricing system for the new school year.

New nutrition requirements led to the changes, Business Manager Terry Sweigart said during a school board meeting Monday, Aug. 4.

Food Service Director Anna Donato said middle and high school students will have an "enhanced lunch" Tier II option when school begins, including "better food" for an additional 50 cents.

The new tiers have been designed to increase participation in the school lunch program, which has decreased with the mandates, Sweigart said.

The food service program has been operating at a loss, according to Sweigart, and the district did not fill open positions in the food service program for the upcoming school year to help offset the loss.