Three Vermont communities no longer meet poverty rate eligibility requirements to offer free lunches to all of their students.

The Caledonian Record reports that all students in Concord, Lunenburg and Gilman schools in the Kingdom East School District are no longer eligible because of a drop in the number of qualifying families.

District officials say the change is a surprise. Director of finance Tisha Hankinson says she doesn't know where the families went or if they stopped accessing assistance services that would have included them in the count.

The district finance committee voted Monday not to pay the $110,000 needed to continue providing free lunches at those schools next year.

Families will need to fill out the necessary forms demonstrating eligibility to access free and reduced lunch.

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