HALEYVILLE - As a new school year for Haleyville City Schools students begins Friday, Aug. 7, families will face school-related charges, fees and sport ticket prices, which have been approved by the board of education.
All Haleyville City Schools students will again not be paying for breakfast or lunch this school year, which should be a benefit to families struggling during hard economic times, school officials said.
Emma Anne Hallman, director of the Child Nutrition Program for HCS, sent to the board of education for their approval a list of prices and charges for breakfasts and lunches for visitors and staff.
“We are pleased to continue offering breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students for the upcoming school year,” Hallman stated.
“Providing healthy, nutritious meals at school helps ensure every student has the nourishment they need to learn, grow and succeed,” Hallman added.
“It also provides financial relief for families by eliminating the cost of school meals,” Hallman continued. “We are proud to support our students both inside and outside the classroom through our school meal service.”
Breakfast, lunch prices for staff,
public
Breakfast and lunch prices for staff members and visitors reflect two increases from last year. The faculty/staff lunch price has increased from $5 last year to $5.25 this year and special event meals (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) have gone up from $7 last year to $8 this year.
All other meal prices are the same for the new school year, including faculty/staff breakfasts at $3.25; visitor breakfast at $3.25 and visitor lunch at $5, the board approved.
“We’re happy that this year, it will still be free,” Bishop added about student breakfasts and lunches. “It doesn’t matter your socio-economic status. Everyone can use a break in these tough economic times.”
Bishop emphasized that parents need to be planning ahead because school meals may once again have to be paid for when the 2028-2029 school year arrives.
Certain incentives such as SNAP benefits - a qualifier for some children to receive free or reduced price meals - will be changing, which could lower the number of students who would qualify.
“When it goes back in two years and changes again, it’s not that no one is going to get a free lunch, it’s just that not everyone is going to get a free lunch,” Bishop explained.
“It will be based off socioeconomic status again. Everyone will have to go back to filling out the applications and seeing if they can qualify for free and reduced lunch,” he added.
HCS Chief School Financial Officer Candy Marbutt explained to board members in a work session held prior to the regular board of education meeting Thursday, July 23, that only the next two school years will be funded.
“It will probably expire in 2028,” Marbutt pointed out, “because of the Big Beautiful Bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress in 2025) and some of the language in that, a lot of students are losing their SNAP benefits. That affects our numbers.
“If we get below a certain threshold, we can’t afford to do free meals,” Marbutt explained.
“(The school year) 2028-29 will be a rough year,” Bishop added.
“That’s when the advancement in technology money will probably expire,” Marbutt explained. “That is when children will have to pay for lunches again.”
“Unless something really happens between now and then with revenues changing,” Bishop added.
“Or some legislation,” Marbutt interjected.
Looking ahead for a successful school year
On a positive note, Bishop is looking ahead at the upcoming new school year with much enthusiasm.
“I am looking forward to a tremendous school year,” Bishop added. “I think we are going to have one of the best school years ever.”
Teacher institute day will be Monday, Aug. 3, at First Baptist Church.
“We’ve made some great hires, and we have some great people in place across the board,” Bishop added.
Personnel in place
for new year
Personnel items approved by the board at their July 23, meeting included hiring Kelsey Gilmer and Jessica Hawkins as elementary teachers; naming Shanda Barnett as middle school rocketry team sponsor;
Service contracts for HCS special education included Vicky Vickery as bus driver; Encore Occupational Therapy Evaluations and Service for HCS students; Dr. Jenny McCullar of Family Rehab to provide professional services for physical therapy and evaluations for special-education related services;
Ready to Start Consulting for board-certified behavioral analysis services; Pam Eckl for low vision and mobility services; Megan Tyra as part-time pre-school special educational paraprofessional and Casey Wilson as HCS special education bus paraprofessional
Lisa Emerson was named elementary school Bright Start morning tutor and Debra Melton was transferred from elementary teacher to 7th grade math teacher.
Charges, fees for
new school year
The middle school will not charge students this year for lockers. Other middle school-related supplements, stipends and charges include a $25 band fee, $5 for all middle school athletic event tickets; $20 cheerleader tryout fee; $45 for yearbooks; $10 for sports physicals and $10 for junior honor society membership.
High school fees and charges include football admission at $10 for adults, $5 students at gate and $10 through the GoFan app;
Season ticket prices for football are $100 for Lion Pride seats; $50 for regular reserved; $70 teacher Lion Pride and $10 regular reserved seats;
Season tickets for baseball will be $100 and basketball season tickets will be $50. Reserved parking fee will be $20, which will go toward the athletic booster club, the board approved.
Admission prices for basketball, baseball/softball and volleyball will be $6 for adults, $5 for students at the gate and $6 through GoFan.
High school locker rentals will be $10, with band locker rental at $3, in addition to a regular locker. Parking decals and athletic physicals will each be $10 with $25 charged as a cheerleader tryout fee.
Fees for non-required courses/club fees include: $40 driver’s education; $50 band; $14 Junior Civitan Club; $10 National Honor Society; $45 seniors, National Honor Society;
SkillsUSA welding, SkillsUSA drafting and automotive tech and FFA each charge a $30 class fee and a $15 club fee.
Family and Consumer Science - $30 class fee; Food and Nutrition -$40 class fee; FCCLA -$20 club fee; Business/accounting - $30 class fee, DECA - $15 club fee; FBLA - $10 class fee; College and Career Club - $10; HOSA - $30 class fee, $20 club fee; Diamond Darlings - $20 and Scholars Bowl - $20.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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