MERRILLVILLE | Book rental and school meal fees are going up for the 2008-09 school year in Merrillville.

The School Board approved a recommendation Tuesday to increase book rental fees for every grade level from kindergarten through eighth grade. The increases in fees range from $10 to $28, depending on the grade level.

Fees for students in ninth through 12th grade will depend on the courses the student is registered in. The information will be put on the school's Web site in the near future.

Milk prices went up by 10 cents to 40 cents, and school lunches went up by 20 cents. A student breakfast is now $1.20, elementary lunch is $1.70, middle school lunch is $1.80 and high school lunch is $1.90.

Hilda Damianick, assistant to the superintendent for business, said the food service department has had increased expenses from suppliers.

Damianick also presented a recommendation to award tax anticipation warrants. The district is borrowing a total of $6.8 million. Of that amount, $5 million will go into the general fund, $1.3 million will go to the transportation fund and $500,000 will be used in debt service.

The School Board approved a recommendation to update the agreement between the district and the Merrillville Support Personnel Association in several different categories. Those categories are secretaries, support personnel, day care and student supervisors, food service, bus drivers, security staff and the technology staff.

The employee groups will get a 2 percent raise, the same as other employees have gotten, retroactive to Jan. 1.

In other action, the board approved the purchase of television equipment at a cost of $21,745 to replace equipment that was 20 years old and the purchase of a graphic arts printer/plotter for $22,095. The district also will spend $17,000 for new fitness center equipment.

The board also reorganized Tuesday and elected Mark Lucas as president for the third consecutive year. Board members later presented him a plaque for his service. The board's vice president is James Donohue, and the secretary will be Linda Jonaitis.