Members of the Patrick County School Board on Thursday learned that enrollment was low on the first day of school.

But that is not uncommon, officials said.

First day enrollment data provided by the school division shows a total of 2,291 students started school on Aug. 10, including 254 students at Blue Ridge Elementary, 215 at Hardin Reynolds Memorial, 125 students in Meadows of Dan, 243 in Patrick Springs Primary School, 405 students in Stuart Elementary, 181 in Woolwine and 868 attending Patrick County High School.

Those totals include the 47 students enrolled in the school division’s Pre-K program, according to the report, with 16 Pre-K students attending Blue Ridge Elementary School, 13 at Patrick Springs Primary School, and 18 enrolled in Stuart Elementary School.

Dean Gilbert, assistant superintendent of operations, said it is not unusual for enrollment to be low on the first day of school, partly because people are still on vacation. Additionally, he said some people who are newcomers to the area don’t realize classes begin here in August, because classes may not resume in many locations until early September.

According to data from the school division, there were 2,393 students enrolled on the first day of class in the 2016-17 school year; 2,450 in 2015-16; 2,417 in 2014-15; 2,439 in 2013-14 and 2,406 in 2012-13.

Gilbert said the number of students enrolled in the division generally continues to climb during the first 10 days of a new school year.

“You’re not considered enrolled until you show up to classes,” Gilbert said.

Also on Thursday, the school board discussed the free lunch program.

Henry County Schools recently announced expansion of their free lunch program to the high schools in the division, thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Henry County qualified to take part in the Community Eligibility Provision, according to Patrick Schools Superintendent Bill Sroufe.

He said Patrick County did not meet the criteria to qualify for the program.

“I’d love for us to have it,” Sroufe said of the free lunch program. “The savings would be tremendous, and more kids would probably eat” meals at school.

Within days of the beginning of a new school year, the local school division was notified by the Virginia Department of Education that an increase was required in lunch prices, as mandated by the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Acts of 2010.

The cost of elementary school lunches rose from $1.85 to $1.95, while lunches at the Patrick County High School increased from $1.95 to $2.

Kandi Burnett, of the Dan River District, asked about a grant the county received in past years. The program allowed for students to receive a different fruit each day, she said.

The program, Burnett said, was well received by students.

Gilbert said officials are exploring a new program, Virginia Farm to School, administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The next school board meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the School Board Office.