Austin Public Schools started the process to gain grant money from the Minnesota State High School League to help more students afford activities and athletics fees.

The school board passed a resolution Monday night to submit an MSHSL application for grant money for athletics fees, which will primarily be used for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, according to Austin High School Principal Bradley Bergstrom.

Bergstrom said students who qualify for free and reduced lunch at the high school can get their activities fees waved, and the money from the MSHSL helps off-set those waved fees.

“This is their way of helping out with it,” Bergstrom said.

Although this is a process the district goes through every year, district officials have noticed an increase of students who enroll in free and reduced lunch programs. Bergstrom said he doesn’t believe this jump in student enrollment in free and reduced lunches is because there are more lower income families in the district, but rather more students who already qualify are applying.