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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Federal funding that allowed public school students to receive meals for free for the past two years has ended.

This means Chilton County students will be required to pay for lunch again starting in August.

However, there are still options.

Chilton County Schools Superintendent Jason Griffin said the school system had hoped the federal funding would be renewed again this year, but it has not been.

Schools are making parents aware of the changes through social media and orientation information to avoid any surprises.

Child Nutrition director Tasha Hayes said parents still have the option to apply for the free and reduced lunch program. Eligibility is determined by household gross income and household size.

“It is available if anyone needs it,” Hayes said.

Application forms are available at each school, CCS Board of Education and chiltonboe.com. In addition to income information, the form asks for the names of the students in the family.

“Once we get it, it links the child to the school that they are at,” Hayes said. “… Then the schools know.”

Breakfast and lunch are served in Chilton County Schools. The cost this year for those who qualify for a reduced price will be 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.

For those paying full price, the cost will be $1.05 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch.

More information is available at chiltonboe.com/childnutrition.

Each meal is designed to meet nutritional guidelines and appeal to students, Hayes said.

“These CNP (employees) at these schools really do the best they can to provide healthy food to these students,” Hayes said.

She said every school also has a salad bar to increase students’ options.

Students also have the option of bringing their lunch to school. However, meals from restaurants cannot be brought to students during the school day.