A routine review has uncovered irregularities in the way a handful of schools are carrying out the federal school lunch program, state education officials said yesterday.

Under federal guidelines governing the Free and Reduced Lunch Program for disadvantaged students, each lunch must be counted accurately in order to receive federal reimbursement. The review found that children going back for a second lunch were charged as required, but some schools were also then billing the federal government for that second lunch, according to Deputy Superintendent Clayton Fujie.

"Some of them didn't count the second meal properly," Fujie said. "So we have to go and see that they're accurate on everything."

He did not disclose the amount of money involved but said there was no malfeasance as far as the Department of Education has been able to determine. He also said the errors will not jeopardize federal funding, but that corrections must be made.

"Some schools didn't have a meal tracking program," Fujie said. "For some it will mean upgrading, automating, finding the money, putting in a new system and finding the time to train."

Because of changes in personnel, Fujie said it's possible some people have not been properly trained in counting the lunches. His office will make sure the schools where problems occurred receive retraining.

The failure to follow federal guidelines was found in an annual review of 20 schools chosen at random.

Another 20 schools will be reviewed when school resumes after the holidays, and schools that have had problems will be reviewed again, Fujie said.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.