Board OKs meal increase, announces athletic field dedication ceremony

By Sarah Berthiaume
Special to the Houlton Pioneer Times
    HODGDON – SAD 70 students who buy their lunch at school will see a slight bump in prices this year.
    The proposed increase, which generated some discussion at Monday’s school board meeting, was unanimously approved. That means prices for all student meals will go up by 25 cents, bringing the lunch price to $1.75 at the elementary level and $2 at the high school. Breakfast will now cost $1. Adult meals will increase 50 cents to $3.50.
    “Costs are going up,” explained Superintendent Bob McDaniel. “And we are also looking to provide a greater range of food choices.”
    Food Service Director Carol Quint wasn’t present at Monday’s meeting, but other administrators believed it had been three or four years since the last increase. When asked if the new price could be a hardship for students who don’t qualify for free and reduced lunch prices, faculty added emphatically that no student is turned away hungry.
    This change represents the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance its food service, said McDaniel. This year, the district committed an extra $10,000 to the program in hopes of offering better food choices, including more fresh foods.
    “When you bring in the fresh fruits and vegetables, it is going to cost more,” echoed Board Member Margaret Scott.
    Also at the Aug. 8 meeting, Joel Oliver, vice chairman of the board, announced the upcoming dedication of the district’s ball fields to long time employee Graydon Drake. Drake maintains the district’s athletic fields and handles maintenance at the high school.
    “We voted last year to dedicate the fields to Graydon,” explained Oliver. “He puts a lot of effort into those fields and I think we have some of the best.”
    The dedication is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m.
    In other agenda items, the board:
    • Approved Title I and Title IIa grants for Mill Pond School. The two grants, which total just over $280,000, help pay for specialized staff, student supplies and more.
    • Approved the following staff changes: Shawna Lyons, half-time high school English teacher; Linda Garcia, full-time English teacher; Susan Lannon, high school science teacher; Sarah Harbison, grade 2 teacher and Royce Quint, industrial arts teacher. The board also accepted the resignation of Bradley Chaisson, high school English teacher and athletic administrator. Chaisson, who worked at the Hodgdon district for five years, resigned to pursue a teaching position at Sanford High School. The athletic vacancy has yet to be filled.