Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

Indiana Department of Education sent this bulletin at 04/12/2018 04:28 PM EDT

4/12/2018

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.

Summer Training Opportunities

Save the Date! Culinary Skills for A+ School Meals - Back by Popular Demand!

  • Want to enhance your culinary skills? 
  • Looking to improve the flavor of your school meals? 
  • Want to work smarter, not harder in the kitchen? 
  • Sign up for this 5-day culinary skills workshop designed for school nutrition professionals (directors, managers, head cooks, or kitchen staff).
  • 8 separate sessions will be offered around Indiana in June and July. 
  • Registration is limited to 32 school nutrition professionals in each class. 
  • Attendees will receive up to 28 hours toward their annual Professional Standards requirements.
  • Registration will be available soon!

Orientation to School Nutrition Management Training

  • The Indiana Department of Education (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 located in Brownsburg, Indiana will be held Monday, July 9 – Thursday, 12 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday, July 13 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET.
  • Attendees will receive credit toward their annual Professional Standards requirements.
  • Click here to register. 

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

Summer Feeding Reminders

  • Many schools continue to feed students even when the official school year is over.
  • There are a few different programs that schools might choose to operate:
    • Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
      • This is a program separate from the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.
      • This program has its own set of requirements, paperwork, and due dates.
      • For more information, contact Tina Skinner at tskinner@doe.in.gov or call 317-232-0858.
    • Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
      • This is a program available under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.
      • This functions a lot like SFSP - all meals are free to students and the attendance area or enrollment must be at least 50% free/reduced.
      • This program differs from SFSP because schools are reimbursed at the NSLP/SBP free rate and schools must follow the NSLP/SBP meal pattern requirements -this includes all vegetable subgroups, meeting daily and weekly minimum meat/meat alternate and grain requirements, etc.
      • SSO schools must remember to keep production records to document the proper meal pattern was followed.
      • Attention! If your school is planning on operating SSO, you must be approved to operate the program in CNPweb at least a week before you plan to begin operating the program.
    • National School Lunch/School Breakfast Programs (NSLP/SBP)
      • For schools that are operating IDOE-recognized summer school, meals can be provided and claimed under the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs.
      • Only the students enrolled in summer school can receive a meal.
      • The school will continue to operate this program the same as they do during the school year - claiming free, reduced, and paid students, following the appropriate meal pattern, keeping track of meal counts, claiming in CNPweb, etc. 
      • Keep in mind remediation programs are not typically considered summer school. Schools offering these type of programs will need to see if they are eligible for SSO or SFSP, instead.
  • Click here for a comparison chart of summer feeding options.
  • Questions about summer feeding? Contact Marcia Yurczyk at myurczyk@doe.in.gov about SSO and NSLP in the Summer. Contact Tina Skinner at tskinner@doe.in.gov about SFSP.

Food Distribution Program Update

  • Attention schools that are managing a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in 2018, the form to request SFSP USDA Foods (commodities) will close on Friday, April 13.
    • If you still would like to apply, please click here.
  • Also, as school year 2017-2018 comes to a close, please remove your product from your state contracted warehouse, as soon as possible, to help us avoid excess storage fees.
  • Questions? Email Cheryl Moore or call 317-234-2516. 

Reminders from the Indiana State Board of Accounts

  • The Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBOA) requires that prepaid meal deposits to be accounted for in a separate Prepaid Lunch Trust fund.
  • SBOA requires individual prepaid meal counts to be reconciled to the Prepaid Lunch Trust fund on a regular basis.
  • SBOA requires compliance with a School Board approved meal charging policy/procedure. Click here for a template procedure.
  • SBOA requires adjustments made to individual meal accounts be based on a School Board approved bad debt/write off policy. Click here for a template policy.
  • Questions? Contact the SBOA at townships@sboa.in.gov or (317) 232-2512.

Upcoming Celebrations and Grant Opportunities

School Lunch Hero Day

Reminder! Action for Healthy Kids

  • Game On Grants
    • Action for Healthy Kids will award schools for physical activity and nutrition initiatives that support efforts to improve school and student health and become nationally recognized as a health-promoting school. 
    • Grants are for $500 or $1,000 and K-12 schools in all states are eligible to apply. 
    • Grant deadline has been extended to Friday, April 13. Click here for the application, instructions, grant strategies, and a Game On Grant Webinar. 
  • Parents for Healthy Kids Grants
    • These grants are for parents or parent groups to implement physical activity and nutrition initiatives. 
    • Grants up to $1,000 are available. 
    • Grant applicants will also be entered for a chance to win one of five ALDI gift cards worth $100 each for their schools. 
    • This grant opportunity closes Friday, April 13. Click here for more information and to apply. 
  • Questions? Email Hannah Ramsland or call 317-698-6962. 

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.