APS to raise costs on school meals, sports & activities

(ABC 6 News) – During Monday’s Austin Public School Board meeting several items were voted on, including fee increases for school meals, athletics and activities.

Executive Director of Finance and Operations for Austin Public Schools, Andrew Adams, said, "unfortunately the federal government did not allow us to stay with the current program we’ve been operating under the past couple of years. So, with that we had to re-evaluate our meal prices and we are requesting the 10-cent increase as allowed by the USDA."

Since 2020 the federal government has funded free school lunches due to the pandemic, that funding will now stop in the fall.

Starting in the 2022-2023 school year lunch prices for elementary students will be $2.60, for grades 5-8 $2.70, and grades 9-12 $2.80. Breakfast for all grades will remain at no charge.

The board also voted to raise athletic and activities fees, for the first time in over a decade.

Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, high school athletes will pay $100 per sport, and middle school athletes $70 per sport.

In previous years high school athletes would pay $80 for their 1st sport, $65 for their 2nd and $0 for their 3rd. Middle school athletes in the pasts would pay $60 for their 1st sport, $65 for their 2nd and $0 for their 3rd.

For fine arts, activities and school clubs the price went from a $25 fee to $45.

The school board did note that the qualifications for free or reduced meals and activities has not changed, and encouraged families to apply.