MECHANIC FALLS – In order to keep the school breakfast program running in the black, the School Committee on Tuesday night approved raising the cost for breakfast from 75 cents to $1.

Before committing to the increase, School Committee Chairman Terri Arsenault gained assurance from Director of Operations Gordon Murray that participation in the program would be closely monitored.

“Twenty-five cents could make a difference. It worries me that we could price right out some who really rely on the program for a decent meal,” Arsenault said.

Murray noted that, like most school lunch programs, it’s a constant struggle to keep the Elm Street School’s program afloat. To that end, the School Committee approved Murray’s recommendation to increase cost for adult breakfast and lunches.

The cost of an adult breakfast will go from $1 to $1.50, and the cost for an adult lunch, from $2.25 to $2.75. There will be no increase in the cost for student lunch.

The School Committee accepted Murray’s recommendation to award the heating oil bid to Jordan Wainwright Oil Co., locking in the price for No. 2 fuel oil at $2.309 a gallon and propane at $1.859 a gallon.

Principal Mary Martin said the locked-in prices should mean that fuel expenses can be kept within the amount budgeted.

“It certainly is a little less stressful going into winter knowing what the cost will be,” Martin said.

Martin also commended all who had a hand in summer work projects to replace the old solar roof and remove asbestos tile from about half of the school’s elementary wing, replacing it with new vinyl composition tile.

“The building is in very good shape. My thanks to the teachers for clearing out of their rooms the day after school was out. And my thanks to the workers who didn’t let the heat slow them down,” said Martin.

Martin also reported that she and Town Manager John Hawley had met with a representative from the state’s Safe Routes to School Program and had submitted a grant application for two sets of flashing lights in the school zone to slow traffic down in the morning and at dismissal. Plans also include raised crosswalks directly in front of the school.

In other business, the School Committee approved hiring Janice Shanks as a new kindergarten teacher to replace Bridget Shea and approved expanding school nurse Andrea Farr’s position to five days a week in order to pick up the hours worked by nurse/ed tech Joyce Bridgham.

The committee also agreed to move the time of their meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.