BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more information from the district on how families can apply for free or reduced meals.
The Bartow County School System says if a student's school lunch bill is more than $25, they will receive an alternate meal -- and one mother says that's not fair.
A mother reached out to 11Alive concerned about the change after federal pandemic funds used to offer free school lunches were not extended this year.
Other Bartow County parents said this penalizes hundreds of students for outstanding school lunch bills that are out of a child's control.
"I just can't imagine somebody taking my four-year-old's lunch out of his hands and giving him something he's not going to eat," said Kristin Turner, a Bartow County Schools parent.
Turner said she received an email informing families that any student with a school lunch balance of $25 or more will get a substitute meal for lunch until the balance is paid.
In an emailed statement, the district said it's an old policy they are phasing back.
"Following policies and procedures in place for decades, and following suit with numerous other systems statewide, substitute meals may be given if accounts are negative $25 or more," a district spokesperson said.
But Turner added families are struggling and the district should do better.
"Things have changed in the last few years post-pandemic," she said. "Everything is different. Bills are higher, groceries are higher and there's lots of people still struggling to find jobs that provide for their families."
The district said federal funding that allowed for free meals has dried up and its hands are tied.
The district said it made several attempts -- through phone calls and certified letters -- to let families know about the need to resolve the debt. It also said it offered an eight-month grace period to families.
Despite those various efforts to communicate the change back to the old policy, the district said it saw a low number of families apply to receive free and reduced meals.
Even still, the district said it will continue forward with phasing in its old policy.
"Again, that is a policy that has been communicated for more than ten years and implemented professionally and with care and compassion in our school community," it said.
The change is slated to take effect on April 17. Any parents still wishing to apply for free or reduced meals can do so at the school district's website.