School Lunch Price Hike?

Ledonia Bailey will have two children attending public school in Baldwin County next year. The Summerdale mother works at a local convenience store and says she can't afford a school lunch price increase.

"We're pulling overtime just to pay our bills," says Bailey. "We can't afford for our school lunches to be raised, we're not making enough as it is, we're doing everything we can to pay our bills."

School officials are considering raising the price of school breakfast and lunch. If the hike is approved, a meal for elementary school students will increase from $1.50 per meal to $1.75. Students in grades seven through twelve will see an increase from $1.75 to two bucks a meal.

"It's being done because of an increase in food costs and labor costs," says Terry Wilhite, spokesman for the Baldwin County Board of Education. "School lunches are still the best deal going."

Teachers could also be asked to pay and extra 25 cents per meal. The hike would not affect students on reduced lunch.