<strong>From staff reports</strong>

Students at 10 northern Beaufort County Schools will be able to participate in the free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch program at no charge to them for the upcoming school year, according to a release from the Beaufort County School District.

For the 2020-2021 school year, the School District is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, a section of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

The Community Eligibility Provision provides an alternative to household applications for free and reduced-price meals in local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with increased levels of low-income students.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

All students enrolled in the listed schools may participate in the breakfast and lunch program at no charge to them. Families will not have to fill out meal applications.

The participating schools are Beaufort Elementary, Lady’s Island Elementary, St. Helena Elementary,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Shanklin Elementary, Whale Branch Elementary, Robert Smalls International Academy. Whale Branch Middle, Whale Branch Early College High School.

Breakfast and lunch meals follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals. Please encourage students to participate in the school meal programs.

Contact the School Food Service Office – Daniel J. Kolat, 843-322-0806, <a href="mailto:daniel.kolat@beaufort.k12.sc.us">daniel.kolat@beaufort.k12.sc.us</a> or P.O. Box 755, Beaufort, S.C., 29901 – for additional information.

Parents or guardians that do not want their child/children to participate in CEP may wish to discuss this matter with Daniel J. Kolat on an informal basis.

Parents wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request in writing to Tonya Crosby, whose mailing address is 2900 Mink Point Blvd., Beaufort, S.C.&nbsp; 29902 for a hearing to appeal the decision.

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