Mehlville School District recently passed an increase in school meal prices at its June 25 Board of Education meeting. There was a recommendation to increase the price by roughly 5% for full-pay students, who do not qualify for free or reduced meals.
The cost of reduced meals will stay the same from the 2025-2026 school year to the 2026-2027 school year. The reduced meal price remains $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch across elementary and secondary schools.
“Meal prices are determined based on current food costs and federal meal reimbursement rates,” stated the memo to the Board of Education. “The federal meal reimbursement rates for the 2026-27 school year will be announced in July. Meal prices for the 2026-27 school year might need to be adjusted after the reimbursement rates are published.”
For full-pay students, the price of breakfast in both elementary and secondary Mehlville schools increased from $2.10 to $2.20. For adults, breakfast increased from $3.15 to $3.25.
Prices vary more with lunches across elementary and secondary schools, as well as by the type of lunch students can select. Elementary school lunches went from $3.20 to $3.35, and secondary school lunches went from $3.30 to $3.45. Lunches for adults at Mehlville schools increased from $4.80 to $4.95.
If students select a “premium” lunch, they would pay more — that increased from $3.55 to $3.70. There is also the option for a Build Your Own Wrap lunch at the high schools only, which went from $3.85 to $4.
The June 25 Board of Education meeting included a presentation about the Universal Free Breakfast Program, which is offered at Beasley, Bierbaum and Forder elementary schools in the district, as well as Buerkle Middle School. The program’s presence at Buerkle was the newest addition in 2025.
Last year, 50% of students at Beasley used free and reduced breakfast. At Bierbaum, that number was 52%; at Forder, 48%; at Buerkle, 53%. The meals are claimed for federal reimbursement. According to the district, “With increased meal participation in all categories, the meal reimbursement will cover all costs.”
