By Laura Crosio
Next school year, lunch prices will rise $.05 for all Johnston County elementary and middle school students.
Lunches will now cost $2.20. The last increase was implemented two years ago and was also $.05. High school lunches will remain the same at $2.30.
Patrick Jacobs, Chief Operations Officer for Johnston County Schools explained the rate increase was due to periodic mandates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offset rising food costs.
The department requires all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to assume the increase in food cost resulting from nutritional standards.
