News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County School System is accepting applications for reduced or free lunches for students.
Food Services Director Debie Taylor said school meals remain free for all students due to COVID relief. However, the lunch forms give the school valuable information for grant applications.
“If parents do not fill these applications out, then federal and state agencies they have no idea how many free and reduced students we have,” Taylor said. “So there will be a lot of grant money and a lot of other money that we may be entitled that we will not get.”
Taylor said the lunch form ask parents for the household size and amount of income. Taylor said forms can be submitted year round and found online through the district’s website or at central office.
“All of this information is private and nobody knows it,” Taylor said. “When our children go through the lunch line at school, you don’t have to show a certain card. You do not have to punch in a certain number. No one knows.”
Taylor said introducing an online application in 2017 has greatly increased participation. Taylor said usually, some 60 percent of families complete the form.
Taylor said the form also requires the seven digit lunch code each student has. If it is the first time completing a form, a parent must register and make an account to do so.
