A state and federal guideline mandated 25 cent increase in lunch prices for the 2012-13 school year was voted against unanimously by Overton County Board of Education members during the Monday, April 16 regular monthly meeting.

In the work session held immediately prior to the business meeting, Nutrition Supervisor Melissa Savage told the school board, “They are requiring us to go up on our lunches.” She said the mandate is from the federal government.

“Breakfast prices and reduced lunch prices will not increase at all,” Savage said. “The two areas that we are not compliant is lunch and adult prices.”

Before the item went to a vote, board member Dolphus Dial said, “We want everyone to know the federal government’s doing this, not us.”

All board members present voted against the increase.

After the increase was voted down, Vice Chairman Ricky Dodson said, “It’s going to pass, or the state makes us do it, but we don’t have to like it. That pretty well shows that the board don’t like it. There ain’t nothing we can do about it.”