MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- To better align the Matthew C. Perry School's Lunch Program with other Western Pacific United States Department of Agriculture subsidized School Lunch Programs, Marine Corps Community Services has implemented an increase in school lunch prices.
The MCCS School Lunch Program was operating at a loss of $20,555 due to inadequate pricing of the USDA pattern meals.
In response to the loss of funds, elementary schools have seen an increase in lunch prices from $1.50 to $1.95 and high schools from $1.75 to $2.10. Reduced-priced lunches were also changed from 60 to 40 cents.
"The change in the lunch program should have been instituted a long time ago, but now we are taking strides in the right direction," said Joseph Ficocello, MCCS Food and Hospitality director.
According to Ficocello, the goal of the School Lunch Program is to provide students with a healthy, affordable meal that meets and exceeds standards.
"The USDA has strict guidelines, and we as the School Feeding Authority must abide by them," by providing the children with nutritional and well balanced meals, he added.
Ficocello has also brought in an expert to better coordinate a healthier lunch menu.
"The new Crossroads Food Court manager is a school lunch program expert who supervised 26 school lunch programs in the past," stated Ficocello.
With the hard work of School Lunch Supervisor Debbie Allison and Food Court Manager Tomika Tonks, "We believe we can only improve the service to the children," he added.