OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg City School District has made some changes to its lunch menu that could save the district almost $5,000 in the upcoming year.

The changes to the menu include replacing wheat hot dog and hamburger buns with white buns, switching from fresh to canned oranges, and using prebaked dough and government cheese and sauce for pizza.

The changes were made mainly for financial reasons, said Brian Mitchell, school lunch manager.

"As a school we're not trying to make money, we just want to break even," Mr. Mitchell said. "It's getting harder and harder to break even."

Mr. Mitchell expects the change from wheat to whitebread to save more than $4,000, but could not say exactly how much money will be saved on the pizza or oranges.

The canned mandarin oranges will cost the school 3 cents, an 86 percent decrease in price from 22 cents, and the pizza will cost the district 16 cents less per slice.

"There is a little difference in the health benefits, but nothing significant," Mr. Mitchell said.

Board President John J. Wilson said the costs of running the schools are rising. Last month the board released an early budget calling for more than $1.5 million in cuts in the coming year, and food prices have continued to increase.

"He's looking at new ideas to cut costs and not change the nutritional value," Mr. Wilson said. "I hope he keeps doing it."