KELLOGG — The Kellogg School Board approved the raising of student and adult meal prices in the district following a brief public hearing on Wednesday at their monthly board meeting.

The proposed increase was between 2 and 3.5 percent and was essentially required by the district for them to stay in compliance with the Paid Lunch Equity tool, as set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Paid Lunch Equity tool is a complex formula that determines how schools price out their food services.

These price changes will only affect those paying full price for lunches and not the students receiving free or reduced lunch.

With the approval of the new prices, breakfast for elementary students, secondary students and adults will cost an extra 5 cents. Lunch prices for elementary and secondary students will also increase 10 cents.

Rachel Ewing, the former nutrition and food services director for the Kellogg School District, made the recommendation for the price increase to prevent the district from having to move funds in the budget to cover the department’s expenses.

“Not only being in compliance with the state, but we need to make sure we can pay for our program,” Ewing said. “It would potentially lead to the need to use general funds to purchase food supplies, purchase services, wages and benefits, and it is our goal not to have that happen.”

Ewing also predicted that there would be a small cost increase next year as well, but then those numbers should sustain themselves for a while.