Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

10/04/2018

Dear Food Service Contact,

This email provides news for schools concerning 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.


Claims for Reimbursement Reminders

  • Sponsors must remember to file their claims for reimbursement in a timely manner.
  • The month to be claimed has to end before a claim can be filed.
    • For example, October 1 was the first day September’s claim can be accessed.
  • Sponsors have 60 days from the last day of the claim month to file a claim.
  • Keep in mind, due to the varying number of days in a month, 60 days does not always fall on the last day of the month.
    • For example, the October claim should be completed between November 1 and December 30. The November claim in CNPweb will no longer be accessible beginning December 31.
    • Missed the 60-day filing period? Sponsors can use a one-time exemption. Once used, the exemption becomes available after 36 months.
  • Made a mistake? Upward revisions, like increasing the total number of meals claimed, can only be made within the 60-day claim period window. Downward revisions, like decreasing the total number of meals claimed, can be made at any time.
  • 6 cents reimbursement will not appear on the site claim summary. Instead, all sites must be entered and the extra reimbursement will appear on the sponsor claim.
  • In order to begin processing your claim, the status should read Complete and/or Approved.  
  • Average processing time for a claim is two-to-three weeks.
  • Click here for instructions on filing a claim for reimbursement.
  • Questions? Contact scnfinance@doe.in.gov.

Verification Reminder

  • Don’t forget, the Verification sample size is based on the total number of applications approved on file as of Monday, October 1.
  • Verification must be completed by Thursday, November 15.
  • The Verification Summary Report becomes available after the October claim is completed. This report is due Saturday, December 15.
  • Verification is not required for sponsors that do not process any Free and Reduced Applications for meals, however the Verification Summary Report still must be completed.
  • For verification notification letters, helpful verification tools, and instructions click here.
  • Questions about verification? Contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov or 317-232-0849 or your Field Specialist.

Happy National Farm to School Month

  • October is National Farm to School Month, a time to lift up the connections happening all over the country between students and local food. Whether you’re an educator, farmer, food producer, parent, student, food enthusiast or advocate, everyone can celebrate and take action this month. Join us! 
  • Here are three easy ways you can kick off National Farm to School Month today:
    • Sign our Take Action Pledge and commit to taking action to advance farm to school in your community this October.
      • Add your name to the pledge and you’ll be entered to win our Farm to School Month sweepstakes!
        • This year's prizes include a "Build-Your-Own Blueberry Day" from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, assets from the Captain Planet Foundation Project Learning Garden™ program, organic dairy products from Organic Valley, and a collection of seeds from High Mowing Organic Seeds. No action is too small – take the pledge now!
    • Explore our national calendar of Farm to School Month events and see what celebrations are taking place in your community.
    • Download free National Farm to School Month materials and resources, including our *new* Farm to School Month Celebration Toolkit, stickers, posters, coloring sheets, bookmarks and more. Share these materials to help spread the word about farm to school! 
  • Interested in learning more about Farm to School? Want to share what your school is doing? Contact Maggie Schabel at mschabel@doe.in.gov

Food Distribution Program Notes

RA Summary Page

  • We still have several schools that are pending submission or uncertified on the Food Distribution Program green puzzle piece in CNPweb. This is the puzzle piece in which you qualify for USDA Foods (commodities). Please take a few moments to check your status and complete the steps listed below if your RA summary page says "Uncertified" or "Pending Submission" under the applications tab.
    • Go to your Applications Tab in CNPweb on the Recipient Agency (RA) Summary page.
    • Go to the Action column and click the “Edit” Link. Review the application form and be sure it is correct.
    • Scroll down the RA Information Sheet to Box 29 and place a check mark in the box.
    • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click submit. You should now be pending approval.

State Contracted Warehouses Inventory

  • *REMINDER*: Please remove inventory from the state contracted warehouses as soon as possible. 
    • Effective October 1, 2018, the Indiana Department Of Education will again charge excess storage fees for USDA foods left in the warehouse beyond the item’s expire date.
      • Typically, this is 45 days after the product is placed in the school’s inventory.
    • Charges will be based on the following table, which represent our average actual contract costs for the current year:

Dry Storage

$ .80

Monthly, Per Case

Cooler Storage

$ .88

Monthly, Per Case

Freezer Storage

$ 1.07

Monthly, Per Case

Questions? Contact Cheryl Moore at cmoore@doe.in.gov


Smart Snacks

  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new Smart Snacks Guide.
    • This new guide contains the interim final rule with the flexibility for milk, as well as, FDA regulations regarding the updated Nutrition Facts label.
    • This resource is helpful for anyone managing school vending machines, fundraisers, or snack bars to better understand the Smart Snacks standards.
    • Click here to access the new guide.
  • Don't forget! We will be hosting three separate webinars regarding Smart Snacks for elementary, middle, and high schools starting next week.
  • Click here for more information and to register. 
  • Questions about Smart Snacks? Contact your Field Specialist or Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov.

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.