Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

Indiana Department of Education sent this bulletin at 03/28/2018 04:14 PM EDT

3/28/2018

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.

Proposed Rule: Hiring Flexibility Under Professional Standards

  • On Tuesday March 6, 2018, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a Proposed Rule, entitled, Hiring Flexibility Under Professional Standards.
  • This proposed rule would add four flexibilities to the hiring standards for new school nutrition program directors in small local educational agencies (LEAs) and new school nutrition program State directors under the professional standards regulations for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
    • First, to address the hiring challenge faced by small LEAs, those with 2,499 or fewer students, this rule would require relevant food service experience rather than school nutrition program experience for new directors.
    • Second, it would provide State agencies with discretion to consider volunteer or unpaid work as relevant food service experience for new school nutrition program directors in small LEAs.
    • Third, to further assist LEAs with less than 500 students, this proposed rule would expand the existing regulatory flexibility which gives State agencies discretion to accept less than the required years of food service experience when an applicant for a new director position has the minimum required education.
    • Fourth, this rule would also add flexibility to the hiring standards for State directors of school nutrition programs by considering applicants with either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in specific, relevant fields.
  • These proposed changes are expected to expand the pool of candidates qualified to serve as leaders in the school nutrition programs while continuing to ensure that school nutrition professionals are able to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.
  • The Proposed Rule will be available for public comment through May 7, 2018. Electronic comments are preferred and may be submitted here. 

Online Training Opportunities

  • Looking for more ways to earn Professional Standards hours? Check out Indiana's free e-learning database through inTEAM. 
  • Training available on inTEAM includes: 
    • 18 Coffee Break Webinars covering topics like unpaid meal charges, pre-order survey for the Food Distribution Program, important updates and reminders, wellness policies, free and reduced disclosure process, smart snacks, after school snacks, and more! 
    • Weight vs. Volume
    • Nutritional Quality and Meal Pattern Compliance
    • Crediting Foods
    • Counting for Cashiers, Managers, or Directors
    • Food Production record
    • Procurement
    • Civil Rights
  • For more information about logging into inTEAM and accessing courses, click here. For an in depth userguide, click here. 
  • Online and in-person training is regularly updated and posted on IDOE's Training webpage. Click here and bookmark this link. 

Now Available: Spanish Food Production Records

  • Sponsors can now access Food Production Record Templates and Instructions in Spanish. 
  • Locate these new resources, along with all the other templates, instructions, PowerPoint, and completed examples on the IDOE Food Production Record Website. 
  • Questions about Food Production Records? Contact your Field Specialist. 

Food Distribution Program Update: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

  • Schools that wish to receive USDA Foods for their Summer Food Service Program must go to this link and complete the SFSP Commodity Request Form by Friday, April 13, 2018.
  • Before commodities can be distributed, the sponsor must complete the SFSP application in the CNPweb by April 30, 2018.
  • Summer Food Service Program USDA Foods consists of non-perishable food items such as canned and/or dried fruits and vegetables and/or peanut butter. The products offered may change depending on availability.
  • ATTENTION! Sponsors who have their meals catered by an outside vendor/catering company are not eligible to receive USDA Foods summer commodities. However, sponsors who participate in the National School Lunch Program and use an in-house vendor (Food Service Management Company) and receive USDA Foods throughout the school year do qualify for summer commodities.
  • Similar to the NSLP, you will receive your summer USDA Foods via electronic distribution placed directly into your inventory. An e-mail message will be sent informing you of the new summer inventory that you can view under the Food Distribution Program green puzzle piece in the CNPweb. At that time, it is the responsibility of school sponsors to create a Delivery Order in accordance with your regular May/June 2018 delivery period schedule.
  • To apply for SFSP USDA Foods Commodities, please click here.
  • For questions, please contact Cheryl Moore, Food Distribution Program Specialist at (317) 234-2516 or cmoore@doe.in.gov.
  • If you need assistance in completing your SFSP renewal application for approval to operate SFSP in 2018, please contact Tina Skinner at tskinner@doe.in.gov or your field specialist.

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.