Eating a meal at school will be more expensive for students, employees and visitors of the Escambia County School System next school year.

The board OK’d an increase in both breakfast and lunch prices this week with the largest being a 24 percent increase in employee breakfast pricing from $1.75 to $2.30. The 55-cent increase was the most with 30 cents being added for visitor breakfast prices from $3 to $3.30 and five cents for students from $1.25 to $1.30.

All lunches were increased a dime with student lunches increasing from $2 to $2.10 and from $3 to $3.10 for employees. Visitors will pay $4.10 for a lunch next school year as opposed to $4.

“We really don’t have a choice,” Superintendent William Hines said during Thursday’s school board meeting. “We didn’t increase them last year, it was two years ago that they were increased.”

Hines added that he doesn’t believe this week’s increase will be the last.

“It’s going to go up again before it’s over with,” he said.

In other business, the board:

• awarded CNP equipment bids to BRESCO in the amount of $9,815.80 and Mobile Fixtures in the amount of $106,495.

• purchased a Type C regular bus from Yancey Bus Sales & Service in the amount of $74,900 and a Type A special needs buses Ward International Trucks, Inc., in the amount of $67,898.

• OK’d resolution to continue 457 Deferred Compensation plan with documents transferring from the Alabama Education Association to the National Education Association.

• authorized preparation of a list of non-renewal and/or transfers of personnel and to apply for federal funds and grants for the 2011-12 school year.

• OK’d bids to Information Transport Solutions, Inc. for basic maintenance-internal connections in the amount of $105,600 per year (1-year contract, with two 1-year renewal options/contingent upon E-rate approval and funding, which would pay 88% of contract) and for WAN connectivity and managed VOIP services in the amount of $487,200 per year (1-year contract, with two 1-year renewal options/contingent upon E-rate approval and funding, which would pay 86% of contract.)

• Chief Financial Officer Julie Madden reported that the system’s fund balance at the end of February was just over $11 million, but said the balance would begin declining with $750,000 having to be used out of due to the recent 3 percent proration.

• approved 2011-12 school calendar.

• approved contract for Rachel Patterson Elementary School Principal Susan McKenzie for a 3-year period, effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014.

• OK’d the hiring of a student aide at the Atmore Central Office to be paid at the rate of $7.25 per hour, not to exceed 12 hours. Funded is being made through 21st Century Community Learning Center.

• approved the following personnel issues: resignation, Starlet Jones, teacher aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective March 31; retirement, Barbara Bowens, special education teacher, Escambia County High School, effective June 1 and employment, 21st Century Community Learning Center (Project M.A.D.E. Learn & Serve), Pollard-McCall Junior High School, community educator, Douglas Gatwood; Twilight Alternative School Program, Escambia County High School, administrators, Jeremy Stanford and Forrest Jones; substitute, Sarah Watkins; teachers, Yolanda Walters, Eddie Reed and Mary Figgers; substitutes, Kimberly Downey, Barbara Whatley, Talia Wright and Nakiedra Matthews and aide, Karl Smith and Joey Quimby, substitute, Saturday School Program, Escambia County High School, effective Jan. 15.