By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — In a response to increased prices for milk and bread, the Colfax Board of Education has increased the price by 10 cents for an extra milk and by 25 cents for an extra lunch entree.
The price for an extra carton of milk has been 35 cents for a few years, said William C. Yingst Jr., district administrator, at the Colfax Board of Education’s May 16 meeting.
A survey of other schools shows that most of them charge 40 cents or 45 cents, so adding 10 cents would bring Colfax up to 45 cents per extra eight-ounce carton, he said, adding that he would not anticipate increasing the price every year.
The cost for an extra lunch entree, after a 25 cent increase, would be $1.25 and would affect grades 5 to 12, Yingst said.
A survey of other schools shows that most of them charge between $1 and $1.50 for an extra entree, he said.
The price for an extra entree also has stayed the same for the past several years, Yingst noted.
Increasing the price by 10 cents for milk and 25 cents for the extra entree is an attempt to stay current with increasing costs and the problems caused by supply chain issues, he said.
The Colfax Board of Education unanimously approved the increase by 10 cents for an extra carton of milk and by 25 cents for an extra lunch entree for grades 5 to 12.
Ken Bjork, school board member, asked for clarification that the increase in price for an extra milk does not apply to lunch and breakfast prices.
One carton of milk is already included in the other meal prices, Yingst said.
At the April 25 meeting, the Colfax school board approved increasing lunch prices by 10 cents per meal and breakfast prices by 25 cents per meal.
Meal prices for 2022-2023 will be $1.50 for breakfast at Colfax Elementary, Colfax Middle School and Colfax High School.
Lunch prices at Colfax Elementary will be $2.70 per meal.
Lunch prices at the middle school and high school will be $2.85 per meal.
Milk and bread
Prior to taking action on the price increase for extra milk and an extra entree, the Colfax school board approved milk and bread bids that had been obtained through CESA 11’s food service bidding process.
CESA 11 has more leverage on bidding than the Colfax school district would have by itself, Yingst said.
Just as prices are going up in the grocery store, prices are also going up for school districts, he said.
Bids from Kemps Milk Products Cooperative represented a 10-cent increase on eight-ounce cartons of milk from .218 to .318 for 1 percent white milk, and from .215 to .315 for skim milk, and from .224 to .324 for chocolate skim milk.
Bread bids from Bimbo Bakeries increased by $1 for a 24-count package of whole grain steak buns from $3.80 to $4.80, increased by $1.06 for a 16-count package of whole grain coney buns from $2.14 to $3.20, and increased by $2.02 for a 30-count package of whole grain hamburger buns from $3.98 to $6.
Bjork asked if there was only one bidder each for milk and for bread.
Not too many companies will bid on a group this large, Yingst said.
There are many school districts in CESA 11, so the orders are large, and there have been problems since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with trucking issues and with supply chain, vendor and delivery issues, he said.
“This is the best bid we have,” Yingst said.
The Colfax Board of Education unanimously approved accepting the bids from Kemps Milk Products Cooperative and Bimbo Bakeries.
Lunch pre-pay
Several school board members asked about the lunch pre-pay.
The Colfax school district is accepting pre-payment on-line for school lunches for the 2022-2023 school year with no convenience fee until August 31.
Throughout the pandemic, student lunches have been free, but it seems unlikely the United States Department of Agriculture will extend the program into the 2022-2023 school year.
At the time of the school board meeting, Yingst said two parents had pre-paid.
Jaclyn Ackerlund, school board member, asked if it would be possible for parents to deposit money into an account to pay any school fees and not just lunch fees, so that if a student forgets money for a field trip or a volleyball jersey, for example, the money could be deducted from the account.
Yingst said he did not know if such accounts could be set up and if state law would allow it, but that he would find out more information.
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Board of Education:
• Learned that the plans for the Dee Clark memorial project are progressing and that Yingst had met with a representative from Market & Johnson and Dale Schiferl of Timber Technologies. The bell from the Norton school has been donated to the school district and is expected to be part of the project. Yingst said he hopes to hold a dedication ceremony for the project during the three introductory days of the school year that are technically part of summer school.
• Learned that projects are underway to update and make the Colfax Elementary and Colfax High School cafeterias more inviting.
• Approved open enrollment applications for the 2022-2023 school year. At the time of the school board meeting there were applications for 12 students to open enroll into the district and 19 transfers out of the district. Yingst described the numbers as a “snapshot” because students can apply to open enroll for up to three different schools, and the school district will not know the exact number of students who will be transferring in or out until after school starts next fall.
• Approved continuing the boys’ golf cooperative with Elk Mound for another two years. Yingst said the Elk Mound school board has already approved continuing the boys’ golf cooperative and that he is not aware of any complaints or issues. “It’s been going well,” said John Dachel, Colfax High School principal.
• Approved Student Assurance Services, Inc. as the student sports insurance provider for the Colfax school district.
Closed session
Following a closed session, the Colfax Board of Education:
• Accepted the resignations of Heather McDonald, bus driver, and Kari Anderson, cook.
• Approved the retirement of Cindy Knutson, dish washer.
• Approved Kirk Secraw as the junior varsity volleyball coach.
• Approved summer school K-8 teaching staff (June 20 to July 1) — Morning sessions: Joe Beranek, weight lifting; Kristi Huset, morning junior kindergarten teacher; Scot Schmock, junior kindergarten teaching assistant; Kari Sedivy, kindergarten; Pam Sikora, kindergarten teaching assistant; Kara Noll, grade 1; Carly Kittilson, Grade 2; Nick Heit, Grade 3; Sarah Yingst, creative arts Grades 4-6; Joe Doucette, recreational activities Grades 4-6; Trey Hovde, special education teaching assistant; Vicki Moore, special education support; Tristan Kittilson, self-contained classroom Grades 4-6 and Grade 6; Mark Noll, English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Grade 6; Dianna Dachel, English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science (Grades 7-8); Diane Buck, elementary librarian (Accelerated Reading books); Megan Cormican, dance class (grade kindergarten to 5); Kayla Scholfield, teaching assistant for dance class.
• Approved summer school staff for afternoon sessions for June 20 to July 1: Mark Noll, computers; Pam Sikora and Kara Noll, young authors.
• Approved summer school staff for afternoon golf sessions June 27 to July 1: Ryan Krall for boys’ golf at Whitetail Golf Course and for girls’ golf.
• Approved hiring Wendy Lausted for crossing guard duty daily at 9 a.m. and noon.
• Approved Summer Saunters (Ice Age Trail) staff for Grades 3 to 8 from July 11 to July 15: Suzy Blomberg; Joe Doucette; Nancy Hovde; Sarah Yingst; Kirk Secraw; Dianna Dachel; John Dachel; Terri Ruff (school nurse); Trey Hovde (WSI instructor and life guard); Trevor Hovde (leader and organizer).
• Approved the following bus drivers for Summer Saunters: George Entzminger, Bruce Fransway, Jodi Jenson, Misti Leon, Candy Pahl and Jim Satter.
• Approved the following summer swimming staff (June 6 to June 17): Trey Hovde (WSI instructor and life guard); Amanda Ruschti (WSI instructor and life guard); Madison Rood (WSI instructor and life guard). Aides: Vicki Moore, Hope LaHaie, Savannah York.
• Approved the following as summer swimming bus drivers: George Entzminger, Bruce Fransway, Jodi Jenson, Misti Leon, Candy Pah, Jim Satter.
