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FRANK BELLINO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Fourth-graders at Southshore Elementary School eat their lunches on 08/30/2011 in Menifee.The Menifee school district raised prices for the start of the school year and plans to raise them again in January to comply with the new law.
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Tacos, chicken nuggets, pizza and other cafeteria favorites are costing more this year as Inland schools grapple with new federal rules for student meal pricing.
The price hikes result from new requirements that say schools shouldn’t be using federal money intended for poor students’ lunches to offset the cost of providing lunches bought by other students.
Many school districts have concluded the only way to comply is to boost prices, though nutrition officials say an increase isn’t needed and may harm students who can no longer afford to buy lunch on campus.
“It’s being forced upon us by the federal regulations,” said David Warren, director of food service for the Menifee Union School
