Mandate hikes NA lunch price

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Tighter state requirements governing school nutrition guidelines have forced North Adams Community Schools to boost lunch prices for the 2011-2012 school year.

Erin Ripley, food service director for the school district, addressed the changes — some of which are already in place, and others which are expected to be imposed — during Tuesday evening's meeting of the North Adams school board.

Ripley said new guidelines affect the type of milk that must be offered (skim milk only) to mandates to reduce the number of calories and the amount of sodium served to students. She said the changes will greatly affect the way North Adams prepares and serves the nearly 2,400 school lunches daily.