Posted on: Friday, June 22, 2001

DOE raises price of school lunch to $1

By Jessica Webster
Advertiser Staff Writer

Public school lunches will increase to $1 on July 1, the first price increase in eight years, the Department of Education announced yesterday.

While school lunches will cost 25 cents more, the increase will not affect the 40 percent of public school students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Breakfast and adult meal prices also will not change.

Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said an increase in food, supply and labor costs make the increase long overdue.

"We do anticipate some drop-off on people who take lunch, but at $1, we still suggest it's the best meal deal in the state."

In other education news:

• An audit on the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program revealed that enrollment saw a 4 percent decline this year from 1,717 students to 1,646 students, according to information released at a meeting of the Board of Education yesterday. Also, a significantly higher percentage of Anuenue seventh-graders scored in the below-average stanines on the 1999 SAT-9 Total Reading subtest than did O'ahu seventh-graders as a whole.

• The Hawai'i Educational Policy Center released a report evaluating the state's relative ability to finance public K-12 education and the state's commitment to doing so. The report said public education relies on a relatively high level of financial support from the state budget. While the state is ranked eighth in terms of state government spending on education, Hawai'i ranks 44th in the nation in terms of total education spending because there is little local financial support, which is more readily available in the other 49 states.

• Melvin Matsuda, head custodian at Holomua Elementary, was named employee of the year by the Board of Education. Others being recognized with Sustained Superior Performance Awards were Ana Gamble, speech pathologist in the Central District; Rodney Goo, school safety management project coordinator with the State's Safety and Security Services Section; Amy Hashimoto, school custodian at Waihe'e Elementary; James Kawamura, student activities coordinator at Kaua'i High; Kayleen Kawamura, school administrative services assistant at Hokulani Elementary; Blain Shinno, student activities coordinator at Kailua Intermediate; and Jessie Veriato, school administrative services assistant at Waiakea High.

• Raymond Belaski, Jean Hayashi and Sandra Matias were recognized with certificates of achievement for their contributions to the improvement of government service.