The Weatherly Area School Board is considering raising cafeteria prices for the first time in at least six years.

District business manager Robert Kachurak said the district would have a projected loss in the cafeteria fund for the 2023-24 school year of approximately $5,000. “We deliver 8,875 breakfasts, and 81,361 lunches per year,” he noted.

Board member Matthew vonFrisch said the district’s prices have remained the same during his six years on the board, while surrounding districts have higher prices. The district charges $1.10 for breakfast, $2.20 for lunch at elementary and middle school, $2.35 for the high school, and $3.10 for adults.

“Palmerton is $2.85 for elementary (lunches), $2.95 for secondary and $4 for adults,” vonFrisch said, “Lehighton is $2.50, $2.80, and $4. And Jim Thorpe is $2.30, $2.50, and $4.25. Even if we raised it 20 cents, we would break even.”

Board President April Walters said if the prices were raised 10 cents for the kids and 20 cents for the adults, the district would break even and still be less expensive than the other school districts in Carbon County.

Jeanine Snyder, the district’s nutrition director, said the board didn’t have to decide on the issue until June 30.

The board then tabled agenda items regarding the Nutrition Group’s contract, 2023-24 budget and the cafeteria prices to the May board meeting, but did raise a la carte items costs, such as a bag of chips or bottle of water.

Softball field

New field dirt was not spread on the district’s softball field for several weeks - and an injury to a softball player that “may or may not have” had to do with the dirt not being spread sent vonFrisch into a tirade. The player broke a leg sliding into a base because the field was hard, said vonFrisch, the assistant softball coach for the Lady Wreckers.

District maintenance superintendent Bill Moyer said bad weather and manpower problems have prevented the maintenance staff from spreading the dirt.

“We are one-third of the way through the softball season,” Walters pointed out.

Redeploying manpower during different hours was suggested by vonFrisch.

“We have some good options, so I think we can remedy the issue,” said Superintendent Daniel Malloy.

Other business

• The 2023-2024 CLIU Special Education Facilities Plan and the Class of 2023’s Senior Class Trip to Hershey was approved.

• The meeting opened with recognitions for students of the month: 6th grade – Levi Aneskevich; 7th grade – Kyle Reiner; 8th grade – Kassandra Hibbler; and senior of the Month for March – Jonathan Darraugh.