The South Whidbey school board approved a 25-cent increase in the price for meals served in the district’s cafeterias at the board’s meeting Wednesday night.

The increase was suggested by Chartwells, the district’s new food service provider.

Beginning Sept. 8, the first day of school, breakfast and lunch at the elementary school will cost $1.50 and $2.50 respectively.

New prices for students at Langley Middle School and the high school are $1.75 for breakfast and $3 for lunch.

District officials are hoping that Chartwells will help increase the number of students going through lunch lines in local schools. Currently, 32 percent of the student population picks up a school-prepared meal.

Last year, the district’s food service operation lost roughly $173,000 and officials believed the shortfall in 2009 would be higher if changes were not made in food service.