Watch for a "milk motion" soon, perhaps at the April 28 School Committee meeting. The aim is to squeeze some revenue from an unexpected source -- milk purchases for school lunches.

Member Joseph Curro placed a paper lunch bag on the committee's "roundtable" at its April 14 meeting. From it, he pulled a variety of milk cartons.

"I support holding the line on fees," he said. "I support the whole child and giving power to parents."

So as a possible revenue enhancement, he pointed to milk.

The cartoons that emerged from the bag included 1 percent milk, vanilla milk, chocolate milk and strawberry milk.

The last kind has two tablespoons of sugar, he said.

Curro suggested pricing milk differently depending on what is in it. A "sweet" milk would have a higher price -- perhaps $1. White milk costs 60 cents.

It would "be consistent with our better-health message," he said, referring to what the schools want to promote.

The proposal could raise $66,000, he said, calling his estimate "back of the envelope." It is based on 4,582 students in the Arlington public schools paying $1 for milk once a week.

"I'm sure I'll get some ridicule for this," he said.

Vice Chair Denise Burns said: "I like this idea."

Joseph Curran, the chairman, said it "shows some creative thinking."

Member Cindy Starks suggested adding soy milk to the menu, as a healthy alternative.

On board with the suggestion was one student representative to the board who noted she is lactose-intolerant.

Curro said he would research the idea before making a motion, on April 28 or after.