JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Monday, Johnson City’s Board of Education (BOE) decided to increase the cost of breakfast and lunch at three schools beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.

Indian Trail Middle School, Liberty Bell Middle School and Science Hill High School’s full breakfast and lunch prices will go up 25 cents each.

The decision was made during the BOE’s regular Monday meeting following a request from Johnson City Schools Nutrition Services. The request highlighted the need for a price hike to address financial shortfalls due to various factors.

“We are facing recent spikes in both food and labor expenses, coupled with a federal reimbursement rate that no longer fully covers the meal production costs, resulting in a financial shortfall,” the request included in the BOE’s agenda states (Item 7.E). “To maintain our meal program and uphold the high-quality standards our students deserve, adjusting meal prices is necessary.”

According to the BOE’s agenda, the following price increases will take effect at the start of the new school year:

• Indian Trail & Liberty Bell
  • Current/New
    • Breakfast $2.25/$2.50
    • Lunch $3.25/$3.50
• Science Hill
  • Current/New
    • Breakfast $2.50/$2.75
    • Lunch $3.25/$3.50

The school system’s nutrition services department noted that the price increases only apply to full-priced meal purchases, and reduced meal prices still remain the same.