Published: June 08, 2008 11:47 am      

RISD trustees consider cafeteria bids

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Rusk school board members are considering the Rusk Independent School District’s cafeteria bids during the regular June board meeting.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, June 9 at the Administration office, 203 E. Seventh St., Rusk.

RISD Superintendent Jim Largent said Friday school officials are already thinking about how rising food prices will impact the district for the upcoming year.

“We don’t start the budget process until July, but this is something we’re already thinking about,” Largent said. “Just like every other consumer out there, we’re getting hit with higher prices of food, fuel, utilities — everything’s going up.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites continued escalating fuel prices coupled with the increasing cost of corn and other farming supplies as the reasons for most price increases — resulting in an 5.8 percent increase in food prices in major cities across the country last year.

“We’re anticipating looking at this very carefully during budget time, with the objective to not raise prices of lunch at our campuses,” Largent said.

Other items on Monday’s agenda include:

• legal policy updates;

• a presentation on the district’s Technology Plan for the 2008-09 school year; and

• a review of RISD’s finances.

The Rusk Independent School District meets at 6 p.m. every first Monday of the month, unless otherwise posted, at the Administration office, 203 E. Seventh St., Rusk. The public is welcome.