The state Department of Education announced earlier this week it is switching its online school lunch payment system to a new one, and that families will have to make payments in person until then.

As of Monday, families were no longer able to make payments electronically through the current system, SchoolCafe, run by a company called PrimeroEdge, which was rolled out at Hawaii public schools, beginning last January. The contract with SchoolCafe ended Dec. 31, 2017, according to the DOE, and it is transitioning to eTrition, run by Harris School Solutions.

In a letter to parents and guardians, assistant superintendent Dann Carlson said the transition would take place from now until April 20. Families with recurring automatic deposits on SchoolCafe should log in and be sure to turn the feature off.

The new eTrition system, like SchoolCafe, will allow families to make online deposits for meal accounts, with a convenience fee, as well as view balances. The DOE has posted the schedule for the rollout, which begins with Mililani complex schools and continues statewide.

Current balances should be transferred to the new system. Questions can be directed to the DOE School Food Services Branch at 733-8400.