As prices continue to skyrocket everywhere, school systems are also dealing with this big time.

Districts in the Mahoning Valley are faced with making adjustments and thinking ahead amid inflation, or there's concern they won't be able to afford the essentials.

For Boardman Local Schools, it's hitting them hardest in the cafeteria.

The cost to buy lunch food has about doubled and it's up to the Food Service Director to stretch the budget, which is completely self-funded.

"We are running into higher costs of produce, of packaging, of containers... everything having to do with preparing the lunch," Food Service Director Natalie Winkle said,  "Chicken nuggets used to be $30 to $40 a box and now they're $70 or $80."

Normally around this time of the year, only about 40 students have school lunch debt racked up, but this year it's already triple the number of students.

Winkle is urging parents to pay it off and make sure students are enrolled in free or reduced lunches if eligible.

"Our biggest worry is that the funds are depleting because parents are not filling out the application," Winkle said.

Like many districts, Warren City Schools is seeing inflation effects in all areas of operation, from the cost of lumber to glass and school buses.

Superintendent Steve Chiaro said this means a lot of planning ahead for the district, especially when it comes to projects so they're never in need of something immediate which could result in having to pay a higher price.