EXHIBIT B EARL M. LANGKOP, Director, School Lunch Section, POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., March 10, 195 State Department of Education, Jefferson City, Mo. DEAR SIR: We are very sorry that we had to close our lunchroom at our school. Due to the lack of funds and the lack of jobs in this area we closed February 28. I am sure you understand that the farmers have no ready cash at this time We thank you very much for your help this year. JETTIE DAVIS, Principal, Providence School No. 95. EXHIBIT C MARCH 10, 1958 Mr. EARL M. LANGKOP. Director, School Lunch Section, State Department of Education, Jefferson City, Mo. DEAR MR. LANGKOP: Under provision of paragraph 22 of the school-luu program agreement and paragraph 3 of the special-milk-program agreement I hereby give written notice that Sacred Heart School (78-2) will terminate s participation in the national school-lunch program and the special milk procraz on March 21, 1958. It is with regret that I do this. However, we have been running the cafeteri at a loss since September and without the reimbursement in the follow. months the loss would be too great. Perhaps next school year will find us et joying happier circumstances. I will appreciate receiving an application for ::program next year. Assuring you of my gratitude for your many kindnesses, I am, Mr. EARL M. LANGKOP, Director, School Lunch Section, State Department of Education, Jefferson City, Mo. DEAR MR. LANGKOP: Beginning Monday, February 17, we will be cha". $1.50 per week for lunches for the school children, instead of $1.25, and 35 - for daily lunches instead of 30 cents. The reason for this increase is due to the increase in the cost of mes: vegetables to such a degree that we need the extra money to keep the cafetera operating. Sincerely yours, Rev. ANTHONY F. SHЯ** EXHIBIT E Mr. EARL M. LANGKOP, Director, School Lunch Section, VAN BUREN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Van Buren, Mo., February 11, 137 State Department of Education, Jefferson City, Mo. DEAR MR. LANGKOP: Cost of food and the failure to receive more comm. makes it necessary for me to ask for a change in the price charged for in t from 20 cents to 25 cents. If you will approve the change we will plan to at the new price effective Monday February 24. May I hear from you at once about making this change on our schedule A of lunch program agreement. For several years we have been serving school lunch in the Buffalo school at a cost of 20 cents through the 1st 6 grades, and 25 cents from 7th to 12th grades, inclusive. In the other lunch programs in our district-Louisburg, Long Lane, and Charity-the price is 20 cents through all the grades. That is because we became one district after we had established the 25-cent price in the Buffalo School and we felt that since it was customary in those schools to charge the same throughout the grades that it would be best to keep it that way. Before school started this year the lunch program and the possibility of operating it at the same cost was discussed by several group meetings including faculty meetings. It was hoped that we could continue to operate at the same price, even though many doubted that it could be done. It was decided, however, that we would start at the same price with the understanding that we make an increase if and when it became necessary. There are very definite reasons for our gradual going in the red on the lunch program this year. They are 1. The overall cost of living has increased from an estimated 4 to 9 percent over last year. Since school began this year hamburger has increased 5 cents per pound, beans 2 cents per pound, sweetpotatoes 4 cents per pound. These are merely examples of some of the increased prices even since school started. 2. The Federal reimbursement for type A meal with milk last year was 5 cents, without milk 3 cents. This year it is 4 cents and 2 cents per meal. In other words, the money reimbursement is 1 cent less this year than last. You will note that the Federal reimbursement does not even pay for the milk served with the meal since we pay 52 cents for white milk and 6 cents for chocolate milk. It lacks 12 cents paying for white milk and 2 cents paying for chocolate milk if served with the meal. You should also know that the milk served with a meal does not come under the milk subsidy and is not paid for by it. Due to above we are forced to charge 25 cents for all student meals served beginning next Monday. Unused meal tickets bought at the old price will be honored. EXHIBIT G JEFFERSON CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DEAR PARENT: The lunch program in our schools is an important and vital service in the schools. It is no longer considered a luxury service, but rather it is believed to be a necessary part of the total educational opportunity available to the boys and girls who attend the schools. We are proud of our school lunch program. Mrs. Charles Bower, director of food service for the public schools, has evidenced exceeding skill and understanding of the importance of this service in the planning for the type of program now in existence. We are constantly striving to improve this operation and shall exert every effort in this direction. A major problem now faces us. Rising costs and decreased assistance from Federal and local sources point to the need for a slight increase in the cost of plate lunches served in the elementary schools and at the junior high school. Specific evidences of this are recognized in: 1. The increased cost of food items over those of a year ago. 2. A reduction by 40 percent of Government commodities received as contrasted to a year ago. 3. A reduction of 1 cent in the reimbursement received per plate lunch served. 4. An increased hourly wage rate for cooks. 5. Withdrawal from the United Community Fund as a participant in 1958. In meeting this problem of increased costs and decreased sources of assistance, the board of education at a meeting on January 13, 1958, approved an increase of place lunch charges of 25 cents to 30 cents in the elementary schools and 30 cents to 35 cents in the junior high school. The new prices become effective on Monday, February 3. We solicit your understanding of the need for this action. The action was taken only after thorough and serious consideration of all the facts involved. Certainly, it was taken reluctantly. It is our belief that you would not wish the quality nor the quantity of the service to be sacrificed in order to absorb the increased costs of today's operation. Such belief prompts this proposed solution to the problem. Sincerely, JOE NICHOLS, Jr., Superintendent of Schools. EXHIBIT H WASHINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWS BULLETIN WASHINGTON, MO. March 17, 1958 IT IS NECESSARY TO INCREASE THE PRICE OF MEALS As announced last November, the schools of Franklin County and elsewhere are having extreme difficulty in meeting lunchroom expenses. Some districts report that their receipts were $800 to $1,400 less than expenditures for the first 5 months of the school year. During the first 6 months of this year ending February, our receipts were less than the expenditures during 3 of these 6 months. Our deficit for the month of February was $300.03. No poultry and very little meat was received from the Government this year. No food supplies of any kind were received in February. The price of food has advanced. The Government's allotment for each child for each complete meal was cut from 5 cents last year to 4 cents this year. It will be partially eliminated in April and entirely eliminated in May. The operation of two lunchrooms instead of one naturally increases the cost of service. The operation of school-lunch programs with the Federal aid available should be self-supporting. The matter of deficits has been considered by the board of education and by the executive committee of the parent-teacher association. Both groups feel that an increase in the charge for meals is necessary and can be no longer postponed. Much to our regret it is necessary to announce that beginning the week of March 24, the price of meal tickets for the week will be $1.50. Tickets should be purchased on Friday, March 21 |