KISD increases price of student meals
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

There is such a thing as a free lunch and at Kilgore schools it will remain free. But, the school board last night raised the price on all other meals.

The vote to raise the price of lunch and breakfast meals came during the board's regularly scheduled meeting.

Revard Pfeffer, KISD business manager, said KISD is at the bottom of a list of meal prices at 40 schools in Region VII.

Pfeffer told the board there has not been an increase in the cost of meals for students since the 2002/2003 school year. "With the cost of food going up and the requirements put on the school districts for what items can and cannot be served to students, it is now necessary to raise the cost of student meals."

The district presently charges $1 for full-price breakfast. Pre- K through fifth grade students pay $1.25 for lunch and older students pay $1.50. "The administration is recommending to the board that the cost go to a $1.25 for breakfast and $1.50 for lunch for Pre-K through fifth graders and $1.50 for breakfast and $1.75 for lunch for sixth through twelfth grade," said Pfeffer.

The school district is reimbursed at varyious levels by the federal government for student lunches. The reimbursement depends on whether the student qualifies for the free lunch program, reduced lunch program or pay full price. "KISD gets 36 cents for breakfast and 23 cents for lunch for all student meals, a $1.84 for reduced cost lunches and $2.24 for the free lunch program," said Pfeffer.

Currently KISD employees are given free lunches as an incentive.

Brian Cole, trustee, asked Pfeffer if the administrative was recommending this program continue. Pfeffer said that decision would be up to the board at budget time.

Pfeffer also said that the last increase by the federal government for student lunches was approximately two to three cents per meal.

In other business, Jody Clements, KISD superintend- ent, recommended the district hire Dr. Liz Jodry and Zevely Hatcher as curriculum directors. "For this position it was decided to split the position and make two curriculum directors," said Clements. "It will be split by either grade level or areas of study." The board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation.

Clements also recommended the board create an assistant principal position at Chandler Elementary and recommended thatDeani Griffith be hired for the job. The board voted unanimously for hire Griffith.

Mike Lieberman, general manager of the East Texas Pumpjacks, updated the board on what was being done at Driller Park in preparation for the start of the Collegiate Baseball League season. "We are preparing to build a deck on the third base side of the field, behind the dugout, attached to the end of the grandstand," said Lieberman. "This deck will be used for all-you-can-eat picnics prior to the game and after the game starts it will be open to the general public."

Lieberman also announced that grandstand ticket prices would be $5 for adults and $4 for children. "We want families to take in a ball game and a family of four can buy tickets for under $20," said Lieberman. "We are also going to have mascots running around the park as well as participating in events in the community. We are still working on names for the mascots."

Jerome Towns, KISD director of special projects, announced the summer school program agenda for KISD students. "This program held at Maude Laird Middle School will have a session for students who are atrisk and have not met expectations in one or more subjects in grades kindergarten through eighth," said Towns. "The session will start June 4 and run through July 3, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday."

Towns said there would be a session held at Kilgore Heights School for Limited English Proficiency students (ESL) in kindergarten and first grade from June 3 to July 3, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Kilgore High School will have two summer school sessions according, one from June 9 to July 3, the other from July 7 to July 31.

The board approved the summer school programs.

Clements gave an update on construction at KISD at this time. "The multi-purpose building is nearing completion except for a problem with the lighting," said Clements. "Under the terms of the contract, lighting had to be a minimum of 30-foot-candle power and on the last test was only at 18-footcandle power."

Clements said there are a couple of options to correct the problem - either to increase the wattage on the bulbs or increase the number of lighting fixtures.

"We talked about going from a 500-watt bulb to a 1000-watt bulb, but the contractor feels that would be too much light," said Clements. "No matter which way the contractor goes to correct the problem it will be at no additional cost for KISD."

The sheet rock is going up on the new 14 classroom addition which should be completed by the end of May said Clements. "This will give the district plenty of time to get furniture and anything else needed moved in by the start of the new school year."