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By CHARLOTTE MOORE
Journal Staff Writer
Parents can expect to pay more for their children’s school lunches starting next year.
While there was no vote at Monday’s Board of Education work session, it
was clear that the Houston County schools will have no choice about the
increase under a federal mandate requiring that those whose paid lunch
price is less than $2.51 must gradually increase their prices to reach
that amount.
Consequently, starting with the 2012-13 school year, elementary school
lunch prices will go up from $2 to $2.25 per day and middle and high
school lunches will increase from $2.25 to $2.50. Reduced meal prices
and breakfast prices will remain the same, according to Paula Dougherty,
assistant superintendent for student services, who made the
presentation about the increase.
Board member Toby Hill, who wanted the public to know that the increase
is being made under a federal mandate, said, “Basically, this is a
penalty for people who are paying for their meals.”
On a positive note, Dougherty said, “You can’t beat the lunches,” and
noted that the school lunch is still “the cheapest lunch in town.”
The board also discussed a vote to be taken on a new elementary school sex education curriculum.
Eric Payne, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning,
explained that the curriculum materials have not been changed since the
1980s, and that the new curriculum materials being proposed were
approved unanimously by a committee of personnel, counselors, parents
and even high school students, who offered helpful insights to
present-day problems.
The programs will emphasize safety, and will include the “Child Lure
Prevention Program — Think First and Stay Safe” to recognize dangerous
situations, and also “Sexual Harrassment – It’s Your Body: You’re In
Charge.”
Payne said that the materials included vignettes and videos illustrating
situations children should avoid, such as getting into cars with
strangers, and that it was basically “conservative” in approach. Parents
may review the materials at their children’s schools, and only students
with parental permission will participate in sex education.
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