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National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

January & February 2023

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811

USDA POLICIES & MEMOS

Sponsoring organizations and institutions are required by regulation to keep Bulletins, Instructions, and USDA Policy Memorandums for reference and to apply immediately the appropriate instruction to agency programs. Call Child Nutrition Programs if you need further clarification.

Food Nutrition Services Response to COVID-19 web page (including Extension memos)

For all Policy and Memos from USDA Regarding NSLP / SBP go here .

• SY 2023-24 USDA FIS Foods Available List
  
• Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 USDA Nationwide waiver extensions: 
  • Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations Related to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Impacting School Meals in SY 2022-2023
• Policy Memo (248.74 KB) Waiver to Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations Related to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Impacting School Meals in School Year 2022-2023 -- EXTENSION 
• Policy memo (289.60 KB) Questions and Answers Related to Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data by Visual Observation and Identification in CACFP and SFSP – Policy Rescission
• USDA/FNS Menu Compliance Certification Worksheets 
• Policy Memo (245.45 KB) Determining Eligibility for Severe Need Reimbursement for the SBP and the Two Cent Differential Reimbursement for the NSLP in SY 2022-23 and 2023-24
• Federal Register 2022-2023 Income Guidelines
• Policy memo (264.47 KB) Third Allocation of Supply Chain Assistance Funds to Alleviate Supply Chain Disruptions in the School Meal Programs
• SP-05-2022-Meal Requirements Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Q & As for program operations to support the transitional standards for Whole grain, Milk, and Sodium.
• SP-04-2022-Question and Answer Guidance on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium
• Fact Sheet on Transitional standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Final Rule

UPCOMING EVENTS:

AKSNA 55th Annual Conference (2023) January 24-26, 2023 in Anchorage (in-person) It's not too late to sign up!  Register at www.aksna.org.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS & DATES:

• Feb. 1^st – Application Verification Report - Application Verification is now over (ended 11/15/2022).  Please submit your Verification Report to Debbie.soto@alaska.gov as soon as possible.
• Feb. 1^st - NSLP Round Table Discussion 2:00pm -3:00pm - We want to hear from you! Please join us to talk about upcoming events, discuss important topics, and address any questions or concerns you and other sponsors across the State may have regarding NSLP. 
• Feb. 15^th - On-Site Counting & Claiming Self-Monitor Reviews - Sponsors should be wrapping up their reviews.  Each lunch site and ½ of the breakfast sites are to be reviewed within the first 4 months of operation. Forms can be located on the CNP Web  (Checklist Tab).  Submit summary report to Debbie.soto@alaska.gov as soon as possible.   
• NOTE:  Single-site districts are not required to conduct the on-site reviews but it is strongly encouraged!

• Primero Edge – Check your potential matches list.

• Listserv – Sign Up! Did You Know? Alaska Child Nutrition Programs has a listserv. The purpose of the listserv is to provide information and updates on the USDA Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.

  To receive all of the hottest news and updates from Alaska Child Nutrition Programs, Subscribe to:

  http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/ak_child_nutrition_programs

  and fill out the form found here: Alaska Child Nutrition Programs ListServ. You will receive a confirmation link via email which you should click to complete your subscription.

• Submit claim data online through the CNP Web Database. Please submit the claim within the 30-Day Claim Submission Date: 

  • November Claim Month - Due 12/30 / No later than 01/29
  • December Claim Month - Due 01/30 / No later than 03/01
  • January Claim Month - Due 03/02 / No later than 04/01 
  • February Claim Month - Due 03/30 / No later than 04/29

  The final claim will not be accepted if it is not in the Pending Approval status by the 60-Day Claim Deadline (see below).  Upward amended claims may be submitted throughout the 60-day period but no later than the 60-Day Deadline.

  Be aware that claims in Error status cannot be paid and if help is needed from Child Nutrition the agency must contact Child Nutrition well in advance of the 60-Day Deadline.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Local Foods for Schools Grant - Deadline January 31, 2023

The Local Foods for Schools Attestation (LFS) form is required. If you are interested in receiving the LFS grant award please return the signed attestation form by January 31, 2023.

The Local Food for Schools (LFS) Program’s goal is to improve the purchasing of domestic, locally grown foods from local producers, small businesses, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers for distribution in schools. The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for Alaska to strengthen our local and regional food system while we help support local, small, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through building economic opportunities. Doing so will help establish and broaden partnerships with farmers/producers and schools to ensure distribution of fresh and nutrition foods.

The Local Foods for Schools grant is focusing on:

1. Increasing SFA purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers
2. Increase SFA purchases from small businesses
3. Create SFA sharing through monthly roundtable discussions

The Local Foods for Schools grant will be dispersed through two different funding sources. The first is based on student enrollment. The second distribution will be based on enrollment data as well as performance metrics on the first allocation.

 If you have any questions regarding this grant, please contact Sue Lampert

RESOURCES

Team Nutrition updated the Whole Grain Resource for The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to reflect the whole grain-rich meal pattern requirements in the transitional standards for School Meal Programs. Access Team Nutrition’s Menu Planning Tools and Resources Menu Planning Resource Sheet The Nutrient Analysis Protocols How to Analyze Menus for USDA’s School Meals Programs (NAP Manual) is a technical assistance resource for school nutrition or state agency professionals. This manual provides guidance for the calculation of nutrient analyses of school menus, which allow the school and state agency to provide documentation that the school is meeting the dietary specifications for National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Link to Manual: Nutrient-Analysis-Protocols-Manual

ICN Updates Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition: https://theicn.org/cicn/ This new section of trainings from ICN is great for districts that want to do more scratch cooking, or have cooks who need additional culinary skills training. iLearn – ICN E-learning (docebosaas.com) Child Nutrition Sharing Site (CNSS) - recruiting new resources Food Safety Protection Manager Training On-line If you are in need of Food Safety training to meet your Professional Standard training requirements you can check out this great ICN on-line training. https://alwaysfoodsafe.com/food-protection-manager?state=Alaska&county=All%20counties%20(Todos%20los%20condados)#productBoxes

Navigating the Food Buying Guide Calculator This webinar provides an interactive demonstration of the Food Buying Guide (FBG) Calculator, a feature included with the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based Tool. Participants learn how to create a shopping list using the FBG Calculator when ordering food for their programs. The webinar can be viewed in English and with Spanish captions at https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-training-resources. Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

Access to Food for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students This flyer has a lot of great information on student eligibility for categorically eligible students and what kinds of documentation is required for school meals. You can find this great resource on our Child Nutrition Resources web page at: https://education.alaska.gov/cnp/resources .

The Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs is a central resource that comprehensively outlines the required USDA Professional Standards for State and local school nutrition program professionals who manage and operate the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).* The resource supports school nutrition professionals in ensuring they have the knowledge, training, and tools they need to ensure the success of the NSLP and SBP.   Master the Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool (PSTTT)! This webinar provides a demonstration of the PSTTT, as well as an overview of the Professional Standards requirements and resources. The webinar can be viewed in English and with Spanish captions at https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/professional-standards-resources.   Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool (PSTTT)

CNP-Web and Primero Edge User Authorizations

Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) assigns a user name and password to nutrition and education staff when a User Authorization form is completed and submitted to CNP when access is needed for the claiming system (CNP-Web and Primero Edge), as part of the staff’s job duties. These forms state:

“I will not share my user name and password in order to maintain the integrity of the data. If another user uses the CNP Web or Primero Edge under my user name and password and provides false information, I understand that I will be responsible for the information supplied to CNP.

I will notify the CNP immediately if my user name and password have been compromised. CNP will give me a new user name and password.

If I no longer need access to the CNP Web, I understand that it is my responsibility to submit a form to end access.”

CNP staff have been noticing quite a number of users and education staff that are sharing their user names and passwords which is NOT ALLOWED. When this occurs CNP staff will immediately turn off that user name’s access and that staff will be required to obtain a new user name and password. If this behavior continues we may be forced to deny access to the CNP-Web and Primero Edge for those staff members. Please be sure you are not sharing your user names with other staff. If a new member needs access they must submit a User Authorization form located on our web page:

                        CNP-Web Access

                        Primero Edge Access

If you have any questions regarding this requirement you may contact Debbie Soto (Debbie.soto@alaska.gov) or 907-465-8712.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Samantha Simien NSLP & SBP Program Coordinator I have worked in the Social Services field for 23 years in various positions within the State of Louisiana and the State of Alaska.  My last position held was with Residential Licensing for the Department of Health where I inspected, licensed, and investigated Residential Psychiatric Treatment Facilities, Residential Child Care Facilities, and Adult Assisted Living Facilities.  In coordination with the Departments of Behavioral Health (DBH), Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Family and Children Services (DFCS), and other State and local entities, we provided the needed information and resources to ensure all facilities were compliant with State and Federal regulations while providing vulnerable adults and children with the care and treatment they needed.  As a new team member of the Child Nutrition Program, I will work hard to maintain the culture and connection established by this team with each one of you. I look forward to meeting you and providing the information, resources, guidance, and support you need to help us all be successful. Feel free to contact me by phone or email with any questions or concerns you may have.  Thank you all for your hard work and service.

Contact Us

• Program Manager                                                     
  • Gavin Northey (907) 465-8708 (Start Date: 01/31/2023)
• Program Coordinator (NSLP)
• Samantha Simien (907) 465-8709
• Program Coordinator (CACFP)
• Anne Marie Martin (907) 465-8711
• Program Coordinator (FDP, FFVP)
• Susan "Sue" Lampert
• Project Assistant (SFSP)
• Chris Mariano (907) 465-4788 (Start Date: 01/30/2023)

• Project Assistant/CDC Grants (School Wellness)
• TBA (907) 465-8719
• Grants Administrator III
• Carole Baker: (907) 465-2860

• Education Program Associate II (Special Milk Program)
• Debbie Soto: (907) 465-8712

• Education Program Assistant (USDA Foods, TEFAP)
• Tony Warren: (907) 465-3629

• Education Program Assistant (CACFP & SFSP)
• Jennifer Cherian: (907) 465-4969
• Pandemic EBT Specialist
• Tonia Parfitt: (907) 465-1080