CANTON – School lunch prices will rise by 25 cents effective Oct. 4

The SAD 21 board took the action Monday night after hearing a report from nutrition services director Marge Kennedy.

She said she wants to keep the lunch program in the black, and with food prices rising 8 percent and staff salaries and benefits up 11 percent, that was difficult.

The new prices will be: $1.50 for elementary and middle school students, $1.75 for high school students, and $2.75 for adults.

A letter will soon go home to parents explaining the price increase and asking those eligible to apply for free or reduced priced lunches.

Superintendent Tom Ward estimated that about 40 percent of the district’s families are eligible for either free or reduced lunches, but not all take advantage of it.

“When people who qualify fill out that form, it helps us get grants,” he said.

Student numbers

Contrary to a trend predicted by experts, the student population at SAD 21, excluding new member Peru, is up nearly 40 students this year to 870.

Superintendent Tom Ward said the biggest jump came at Dirigo High School where 366 students are enrolled, up from 335 at the end of the last school year.

Although some of those new students may have come from Peru, since the merger was completed earlier in the year, Ward said several new families have also moved into the district.

The highest school population in the district’s history is starting to put pressure on the school, said Principal Dan Hart. A major, multimillion dollar renovation at Dirigo High School was completed in 1998.

A search for space to provide special services will likely begin soon at the school.

The two elementary schools are seeing a modest increase, from 261 to a total of 266 students, with virtually all of the growth coming from kindergartners. The middle school student population went from 234 to 238.

Skateboard park in the future?

Laurie Soucy, Wellness Committee spokeswoman, received permission from the SAD 21 board to apply for grants that could bring a portable skateboard park to the district.

Superintendent Tom Ward said a check with the district’s insurance company showed about a $100 liability insurance increase if such a facility was added.

Soucy said she has been working with a group of high school boys who have said a skateboard park is wanted and would be used.

A possible location for the portable equipment would be on a portion of the Dirigo High School parking lot.

The board and administration like the idea of the portable park because is could be removed and stored during the winter.