Nancy Yeary Lampasas Independent School District has a new assistant superintendent. After an executive session Monday evening, LISD board trustees agreed to hire 26-year educator Nancy Yeary to replace Nelda Fortune Crawford, who is retiring at the end of the school year after 41 years in education.

Mrs. Fortune Crawford is the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, a position she has held for four years.

Mrs. Yeary has served as principal at Hanna Springs Elementary School since 2006. She previously was assistant principal at the campus, beginning in 2001.

In other business Monday, trustees agreed to an across-the-board increase of 25 cents for school meals. It has been five years since prices were adjusted, said LISD Business Manager Shane Jones, who added the increase is an attempt to keep up with inflation.

New breakfast prices will be $1.25 for all campuses; lunch will be $2 on elementary campuses, and $2.25 at both the middle school and high school campus.

Eighteen area school districts were surveyed, and though the LISD’s price increase will put its meals above the cost charged by other districts, Jones said it is a matter of time before other districts will seek cost adjustments as well.

The boost in prices is expected to generate an additional $48,000 for the food service program, Jones said, which will help with the higher cost of groceries but do nothing to provide funds for equip- ment.

“The federal reimbursement rate has not kept up with the free and reduced lunches,” Jones said.

At Lampasas High School, about 700 students eat lunch each day in the cafeteria, compared to around 150 before the opening of the new campus and its closure for students to eat off campus.

LISD Board President James Briggs said he understands families are having a hard time, “but we’ve got to balance our budget, too.”

A little help in that area could be coming through increased enrollment. At latest count, the LISD was up four students over last month -- to 3,321. And Superintendent Randall Hoyer said attendance numbers also are up. “We are currently at 96.4 percent, and that’s outstanding. If we can maintain 96 percent, that’s huge for funding.”

In other business, LISD Director of Maintenance J.D. Butts said damage from a March 20 storm included roof tiles and shingles missing at several campuses, some damage to portable buildings, a portion of a roof lost, a shop door blown off and a sprinkler shed moved by the wind. Repairs are under way.

Trustees also agreed to hire an assistant principal for Kline Whitis Elementary and Taylor Creek Elementary schools.

In final matters, the LISD will save about $6,000 by not holding an election in May.

Trustees Linda Floerke and Kirk Whitehead faced no opposition, so both were declared elected, and the election was canceled.

They will be sworn in after the May election date.