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SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES TO RISE FOR STUDENTS PAYING FULL PRICE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES ONLINE SAFETY, MIAMI – The price of student lunches in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will rise by 50 cents in the coming school year, the first school lunch increase in the District in 15 years. Only those who pay full price for school meals – about 20 percent of the District’s students who are served lunch – will be affected by the increase, which was authorized by the School Board Wednesday. Those students who receive free or reduced price lunch will not be affected. All students in the District will still be able to receive breakfast free of charge each school day. The price of an elementary school lunch will rise from $1.25 to $1.75; secondary school lunches will rise from $1.50 to $2. The School Board also authorized the implementation of the FBI Safe-Online Surfing Challenge program into the curriculum for students in grades six and seven. The program is designed to help teach students and parents about Internet safety. Recent statistics have demonstrated the vulnerability of youngsters while communicating online. The goal of the FBI Safe-Online Surfing Challenge program is to ensure that participants can recognize and avoid potential dangers associated with the Internet, such as discussion boards, instant messaging, and chat rooms. The program was proffered by School Board Chair Agustin J. Barrera at the Board’s May 2006 meeting. School District employees will benefit from participation in an Employee Transportation Benefits and Rideshare Program that offers discounted Metropasses and parking permits, as well as discounts on Tri-Rail transportation. Participation in the programs came as a result of School Board Vice Chair Perla Tabares Hantman’s April 2006 proposal that the School Board authorize the Superintendent to evaluate the implementation of employee transportation benefits and rideshare programs in partnership with Miami-Dade Transit and South Florida Commuter Services. Employees will be surveyed regarding their transportation needs with the possibility of being included in the South Florida Commuter Service’s Ridesharing and Van Pooling programs. The School Board also learned of the success of the Division of Social Sciences’ student voter registration program, which, since its inception, has helped nearly a quarter million M-DCPS students register to vote. In just past school year, 11,651 District students registered, representing virtually 100 percent of students eligible to vote. Students are registered to vote by social studies teachers, primarily through their American Government or Economics classes. Voter registration materials and general support are provided by the Miami-Dade County Elections Department. ### 06-LJG/247/JJS |
