Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

Indiana Department of Education sent this bulletin at 03/21/2018 01:35 PM EDT

March 21, 2018

Dear Food Service Contact,

This email provides the most up-to-date news for schools about the Child Nutrition Programs from USDA and the State. If you are the food service contact for your school or corporation, it is your responsibility to relay important information provided to you about the Child Nutrition Programs to other staff members.

Civil Rights Reminders!

  • The main objective of Civil Rights is to treat everyone with dignity and respect and not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, and/or sex.
  • Sponsors must:
    • maintain on file the racial/ethnic makeup of the children applying for and participating in the program;
    • train any staff person who works with Child Nutrition Programs on all aspects of civil rights compliance annually,
    • retain training records of the people who received civil rights training for three years, plus the current year;
    • make sure people with disabilities are accommodated;
    • determine eligibility for free and reduced price applicants in a nondiscriminatory manner;
    • provide information in other languages concerning the availability and nutritional benefits of the Child Nutrition Programs in areas where there are concentrations of people with Limited English Proficiency;
    • communicate that any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against based on all the protected classes has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action;
    • print the civil rights log to track complaints and keep on file;
    • have a civil rights procedure in place,
    • routinely analyze data to determine if any groups are disproportionately represented in adverse actions and if so, take further actions to determine if there is discrimination;
    • reach as many potential participants as possible;
    • display the USDA “And Justice for All…” non-discrimination poster in a place where it can be seen by all who visit the premises,
      • to order new posters, click here;
    • include the USDA non-discrimination statement on all materials that mention USDA funded programs and make sure that statement is also on websites that mention USDA funded programs; and
    • maintain confidentiality.
  • Training Tools
  • IDOE Civil Rights webpage
  • Questions? Email Maggie Schabel or call (317) 232-2130.

Upcoming Training Opportunities

ISNA Spring Seminar

  • Join the Indiana School Nutrition Association (ISNA) at the Indianapolis Marriott East for Spring Seminar 2018 on Friday, April 20th.
  • ISNA is excited to announce Dr. Katie Wilson, Former Deputy Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at USDA, as the featured keynote speaker!
  • Spring Seminar will provide an excellent learning experience through relevant and important breakout topics that will qualify for USDA professional standard hours.
  • In addition to continuing education, participants will have the opportunity to interact with industry partners.
  • Click here for the agenda.
  • Click here to register and for additional location details.
  • Questions? Contact Sheri Shipp.

Save the Date! ISNA Leadership Academy

  • The Indiana School Nutrition Association’s (ISNA) Leadership Academy comprises two comprehensive courses (Beginner and Advanced) that will include topics in all four SNA Key Areas with a focus on Nutrition & Operations in the beginner level course and a focus on Administration & Communications/Marketing within the advanced course.
  • Beginner Level: This course is geared toward beginning level managers or child nutrition employees striving for future management positions within the next few years, however, all are welcome!
    • Attendees will be provided essential training on the basics of school nutrition programs, meal planning, resource management, and general food service operations.
  • Advanced Level: This course is geared toward all level managers as well as directors, however, all child nutrition employees would benefit and are welcome!
    • Attendees will be provided essential training on communications, ethics and decision making, team-building, and staff development.
  • Click here for location, dates, and future registration.
  • Questions? Contact Sheri Shipp

Orientation to School Nutrition Management Training

  • The IDOE, in partnership with the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), is providing a week long Orientation to School Nutrition Management Training.
  • The target audience includes School Nutrition Program staff with fewer than 5 years of experience as a Director or those who may aspire to be a Director.
  • The training will provide an overview of the management components of school nutrition programs.
  • This 5-day training will be held July 9 – 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and July 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.
  • Attendees will receive credit toward their annual Professional Standard hours.
  • Click here to register.
  • Questions? Email Maggie Schabel or call (317) 232-2130.

Could Your Students Benefit From a Healthy Supper?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) includes the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program that allows eligible schools to receive reimbursement for after school meals and/or snacks during the school year.

Basic eligibility requirements include:

  • Offer educational or enrichment programming in a structured and supervised environment
    • A wide variety of activities qualify, from tutoring to band and chess club to mentoring and life skills education
    • The Afterschool Meals Program may not operate for the sole benefit of competitive sports teams, but athletes may receive meals as part of a broader after afterschool program that offers activities for other students.
    • Schools can partner with other organizations to provide the activities
  • Offer meals free of charge (all meals are reimbursed at the free rate)
  • Be within the attendance boundary of an elementary, middle, or high school where at least 50% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals

 Other program information:

  • 1 meal and/or 1 snack (or 2 snacks) may be served each day
    • If an afterschool snack is claimed under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), then supper may still be claimed under CACFP
  • While meals must be served after school on school days, they may also be served at any time of day on weekends or holidays during the school year
  • The program must be regularly occurring, but it is not required to be provided daily
  • Schools may claim reimbursement for meals served to children age 18 (or 19 if they were 18 at the start of the year) or younger.
  • The NSLP or CACFP meal pattern may be used for K-12 students.
  • There is a streamlined CACFP application process for schools applying for the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program

Find more information here: https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cacfp/atriskguide2016.pdf.

For questions about the program or application process, contact Rachel Reynolds at rreynolds@doe.in.gov.

Truckload Requirements

  • In order to meet USDA truckload requirements, the IDOE had to reduce some product amounts that are requested on the 2019 pre-order survey for the fruits, vegetables and dairy categories.
  • If your school has been affected, then you will see an increase in your entitlement.
  • The entitlement dollars have been added back and are available for use on the poultry, livestock, grain and miscellaneous (misc.) categories of the survey.  
  • These entitlement dollars must be used by the survey close date of March 23. 
  • Due to lack of interest and request, dried cranberries 100301 have been totally removed from the 2019 pre-order survey and will not be available for SY2018-19.  
  • If your state contracted warehouse is either McFarling or Wabash, due to low interest and lack of requests, diced potatoes 110844 have been removed from the SY2019 survey.
  • The diced potatoes 110844 will remain on the SY2019 survey for Dilgard and Stanz.
  • Questions? Email Cheryl Moore or call (317) 234-2516.

Missed a Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter? Click here to access previous newsletters!

Please do not reply directly to this email. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this email, please contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov, call (317)232-0849 or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20849. Or, contact Sarah Kenworthy at skenworthy@doe.in.gov, call (317)232-0857 or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20857.