Goshen Schools Address Lunch Price Hikes, Budget Updates, and Psychologist Bargaining Changes

Photo byDani Messick,

Goshen, Ind. — In a Monday evening meeting, the Goshen Community Schools Board of Trustees approved changes affecting school lunch prices, the district budget, and collective bargaining for educational psychologists, with a focus on compliance and financial sustainability.

Higher Adult Lunch Prices for West Goshen and Chamberlain Elementary Schools
Adults dining at West Goshen and Chamberlain Elementary will see an increase in lunch prices for the 2024-25 school year. These schools are participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows free meals for all students. However, adult meal prices must be adjusted to meet Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) standards. Chief Financial Officer Bob Evans explained that adult lunches will now be priced at $5 to cover the overall cost of meals, a 50-cent increase from the standard adult meal prices across the district. This adjustment ensures compliance with USDA guidelines.

Budget Hearing Overview
The board also reviewed the district's budget for 2024, with the education fund set at $50.2 million and the operations fund at $17.6 million. Other notable allocations include $6.4 million for the operating referendum and $14.5 million for debt services. Evans emphasized that while these figures give the authority to spend, it's not the district's intention to use the full amounts. The numbers are advertised higher to allow for adjustments later, with no public objections raised during the hearing.

Educational Psychologists Removed from Collective Bargaining
Another significant decision involved removing educational psychologists from the district’s collective bargaining unit. Psychologists will now be employed through the Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative (ESCEC) and will bargain directly with ESCEC, rather than the Goshen school district.

These changes mark strategic steps in Goshen Community Schools’ financial and operational planning for the year ahead.