USDA and the TN State Department of School Nutrition has recently released information that the waivers for free lunch for any child aged 1-18 have ended and will
not be renewed. School Nutrition Programs are federally funded and without Congressional action to give USDA authority to extend the waivers, unfortunately, Unicoi County Schools can not continue to offer free meals as we have done for the previous 2 years.
Starting again during the 2022-23 school year, students must pay for lunch unless their
family qualifies for free/reduced meals. To qualify for free/reduced lunch, parents must
complete the free/reduced application and return it to their student's school. The applications are online on each school’s website, the UC Schools Food Services website, and in the online enrollment packets. Additionally, paper copies of the application are also available at each school and the School Nutrition Office at our central office located at 100 Nolichucky Avenue in Erwin. Only one application is required per family.
Lunch prices for the 2022-2023 school year are $2.50 for elementary students, $2.65 for
middle school students, $2.75 for high school students, $4.00 for school employees and
$5.00 for adult visitors. All students are still eligible for free breakfast for the 2022-2023
school year. Breakfast price is $3.00 for school employees and adult visitors.