Elmhurst District 205 is considering pulling York High School out of the federal school lunch program. The change, proposed for the 2027-28 school year, would let the cafeteria serve bigger portions and a wider menu.

Only about 650 of York's roughly 2,600 students buy lunch in the cafeteria, a 25 percent participation rate that district officials call far lower than comparable suburban schools. Patch first reported the proposal after the district's finance committee took it up the week of Sept. 11.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) reimburses schools for providing free and reduced-price meals to low-income students. It also dictates portion sizes, meal pricing and what can be sold à la carte. Under current rules, portion sizes stay the same from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Leaving the program would cost York about $150,000 a year in federal reimbursement, according to a district food service presentation. An increase of 70 to 140 students buying lunch would make the switch cost-neutral. That calculation does not include potential revenue from expanded à la carte sales.

The district has pledged to absorb the cost of free and reduced-price meals for low-income York families. The number of students who currently qualify has not been made public.

Paid meal participation across District 205 has dropped 10 percent over the past three years, and overall lunch revenue has stayed flat for a decade, according to the presentation.

Board members Beth Hosler and Kelly Henry voiced support at the finance committee meeting. Hosler said at the Sept. 11 meeting that she had been "hoping that something like this could happen for a long time." She said keeping students on campus with food they enjoy felt safer than the alternative. Henry said she wanted similar improvements extended to the elementary schools.

Thirteen suburban high school districts have already left the NSLP, including Downers Grove, Hinsdale, New Trier and Lyons Township, according to the district's presentation. Among the most recent to make the switch are Barrington, Batavia and Mundelein. Districts that have left report lunch participation rates between 45 and 90 percent, Blomquist told the committee.

No formal board vote has been taken.

The district plans to survey stakeholders in September, with the Finance and Operations Committee set to hear recommendations at its Wednesday, Nov. 4 meeting. An outside consultant could be hired through a request for proposals in January or February, with a final recommendation expected in March.