While our own national government struggles to balance its budget, Loudoun County Public Schools has had its own budget problems. To start the 2013-2014 school year, the Loudoun County Public School students have seen price increases in both the cost of athletic tickets, including season passes, and school lunches.                

 The increase in the cost of school lunch can be directly attributed to higher quality lunch entrees.

 “In the past, we’ve had chicken nuggets and pretzel sticks, but since the price increase we’ve been able to upgrade to different flavor chicken bites and pretzel twists,” said Cafeteria Manager Jodi Hendrickson.

 The cost of lunch entrees are the only school food that has seen a price increase. Breakfast entrees, sides, and all a la carte items prices have remained the same.

 “I used to be able to stretch $50 over the course of a month to buy lunch at school, but this year I have already run out of money three weeks in,” said senior Jon Becerra, “It’s rather upsetting, but the change in price isn’t going to stop me from buying lunch at school.”

 Whether or not the change in prices has affected the number of lunches sold has yet to be determined.

 “I think the overall reaction to the increase in prices has been well received. Students are far more excited about the current lunch entrees than they ever were with the old meals,” said Hendrickson.

 The students have noticed the difference in quality.

 “The food here sure beats the quality of the meals in both middle school and elementary school from what I can remember. The price increase is only marginal and I’m sure my mom doesn’t mind paying an extra few cents for school lunch,” said sophomore Nick Farmer.

Lunch isn’t the only play students are seeing a cost increase.

  “The increase in cost of both single game admission tickets and season passes to athletic events can be attributed to a decision made by our athletic conference. The cost of referees, which are set by official associations, have steadily risen over the past 10 years, but nothing has ever been done to combat their increased fees,” said Athletic Director Mike Sipe.

 Students have certainly noticed the change, but some are more welcoming to the increase price than others.

 “I don’t mind the increase in ticket prices at all. It is just a dollar and the money goes to our school so no one should be complaining,” said junior Leeza Zavialova.

 It is difficult to predict how the increase in the price of the season passes will affect the number of passes sold.

 “We can’t get a good estimate on that number until halfway through the winter season when we’ve concluded the majority of our season pass sales,” said Sipe.

 The majority of the gripe about the increase in ticket cost is simply due to the fact that $6 is not as easy to use as $5. Before, students could just grab a quick $5 or $10 bill and change was quick, easy, and often nonexistent.

 “The cost associated with the price increase doesn’t bother me, but the effort it takes to grab that extra $1 bothers me,” said Becerra.