GRIFFITH | With the price of milk rivaling that of gasoline, the School Board voted reluctantly but unanimously has booted the price students will pay for a half-pint of milk.

The price goes from 35 to 50 cents a carton starting next school year.

School corporation secretary Jeannette Bapst said the board was hoping to keep the cost the same, but milk prices have "gone through the roof" the past couple of months. She calculated the school corporation is now paying about 42 cents a carton for milk.

Board member Richard Muha said the hike represents an increase of almost 45 percent.

"The cost of milk ... we cannot afford to operate at that cost," Superintendent Peter Morikis said.

It will also cost students more for textbook rental next year.

Half-day kindergarten students will get a $14 increase to $80 while their full-day counterparts will be boosted by $4 to $116.

Elementary school students will have a $4 increase to $116 while book rentals for the middle school will rise by $5 to $115. High school students will see a $2 boost to $120.