Students to pay for school lunches beginning next school year

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- For the past two years, school lunches for all public-school students have been free, paid for by Covid related federal programs. Those programs will end this summer.

South Dakota Senator John Thune says its part of wrapping up pandemic related spending.

Thune says Congress can come back to any of those programs if necessary.

Thune says Congress will continue to protect low income families from higher lunch costs.

South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson says low income families won’t see any changes.

Johnson says those federal dollars can go to other needed programs.

Johnson says most schools will revert to the free and reduced meal program.

The program cost about $10 billion over the past two years.