BUFFALO TWP — Freeport Area School District’s food provider, The Nutrition Group, projects a $31,000 surplus for the district’s cafeteria fund by the end of this year, more than anticipated, according to superintendent Ian Magness.

Kelly Valmassoni, regional manager of The Nutrition Group, presented findings to board directors during a school board meeting Wednesday, March 6.

That exceeds last year’s $31,000 deficit, Magness said after the meeting.

Valmassoni and Magness both said the projected surplus is in part due to the Pennsylvania universal free breakfast and expansion of free school lunch program approved in August 2023, which the district did not account for in its budget.

The state funding is a continuation of a federal pandemic program that waived school meal costs from March 2020. Federal funding ended in the 2022 school year.

According to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office, the 2023-24 state budget detailed a $46.5 million increase to provide free breakfast to 1.7 million public school students in Pennsylvania, and free lunch to students who would have otherwise received price-reduced lunches.

After the meeting, Magness noted that the district’s surplus also was higher than expected in part because of a labor shortage that led to reduced labor costs.

A week before the school year was set to start, the district was short nine staff members, Valmassoni said.

Magness commended staff for their help through the shortage with the increased workload involved.

All four kitchens in the district have been affected, Magness said.

At this time, the district is also recommending lunch prices remain the same at $2.85 for secondary students and $2.75 for elementary school students. Magness said the district could consider raising prices by 10 cents in the next few years.

The projected cafeteria fund budget will be finalized in June, Magness said.