Saugus school lunch hit hard with $41k deficit

SAUGUS-Superintendent Richard Langlois believes he’s identified what’s caused the $41,000 deficit in the School Department’s food service program. Largely, it’s been fewer meals served.The School Committee knew in November that the food budget had taken a big hit.At the time, the Food Service Subcommittee reported an anticipated shortfall, but predicted it would be closer to $11,000.Last month Langlois reported the account suffered a $36,470.54 loss and predicted it would grow, which it did by roughly an additional $4,530.Langlois said after investigating the loss, he attributes it to an 8 percent increase in free and reduced lunch.The number of free and reduced lunches had already jumped from 14 percent to 22 percent this school year, which Langlois called huge.”So kids are buying fewer lunches – 12,000 meals less,” he said.He said overstaffing and an increase in food costs also attributed to the deficit.The School Department last year raised the price of meals to $2.25, which Langlois said is at or just below average compared to other districts.While the committee initially said a price increase was off the table, Langlois did suggest the Food Service subcommittee meet to discuss the shortfall and how to address it.However, it was not all bad news for Chartwells, the district’s food provider.During the same meeting Langlois also paused to praise the company, along with Dan Sabbag, food director for school district, and the Veterans Memorial School.”The Veterans actually sells the most meals of any school,” he said adding that the servers and the school “do an excellent job there.”