Single Lunch Period Gets Blame for High Schools' Sales Drop

Two Charles County (MD) high schools saw lunchtime sales drop when they went to a single lunch period for all students, reports Southern Maryland Newspapers. The district suffered a net loss of $408,000 in its foodservice program, which was absorbed by a positive fund balance, on its $10 budget for the 2010-11 school year.

Henry E. Lackey and North Pointe high schools combined to account for $276,000 of the program deficit. Lackey has had a single lunch period since 2009 while North Pointe followed suit beginning last year. Administrators say they will explore solutions such as posting food kiosks around the buildings, since students are allowed to eat anywhere on campus, and many use lunch time for meetings and activities related to school clubs.