Water Availability
USDA Policy Memo SP 49-2016 states that potable water must be available to students during the meal periods. The water must be free of charge and students must be allowed to access water or have an adult provide them with water. The use of a water fountain is acceptable as long as the fountain is within the meal service/cafeteria area and students can access it. Please notify all adults in the meal service area providing oversight of students of this USDA program requirement.
Please remember that bottled water is not an allowable expenditure of food service funds to meet this requirement and providing water for sale also does not meet the requirement. Additionally, the availability of water cannot act to meet Special Dietary needs for beverage substitution without a medical note from a prescriptive authority.
Additional questions about this requirement can be directed to your assigned field specialist.
Menu Planner for School Meals
The Menu Planner for School Meals has been revised to reflect the 2022 final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium. This technical resource is designed to help school nutrition professionals plan, prepare, provide, and market great tasting, nutritious, and safe meals. The content covers information on the following topics: nutrition, food safety, Farm to School, USDA Foods, seasonal foods, marketing and the administrative review. The resource consists of seven chapters intended to stand on their own in addition to the introduction, quiz answer key, glossary and appendices sections.
While program operators and staff at the local school food authority comprise the target audience, state agencies and FNS Regional Offices may find this resource helpful for providing guidance and training.
Access the Menu Planner for School Meals here.
Pounds Diverted to Processors
Remember to utilize pounds diverted to processors. Pounds should be utilized at a rate of approximately 10% per month. To determine if your school diverted pounds to processors for school year 2023-2024, check your Surveys tab under the FDP link in CNPweb. Click the view link and this will take you to the survey. If you have clickable product codes at the left of the screen, your school has diverted pounds to processors. Pounds should be monitored and managed regularly via the commodity tracking websites, K12 Foodservice and ProcessorLink. Contact Cheryl Moore with any questions.
USDA Foods Beginning of Year Reminders
In case you missed the live training, view the live version of USDA Foods Beginning of Year Reminders.
Introducing Food Distribution Program (FDP) 2.0
What is it? FDP 2.0 is new program that will replace FDP software in CNPweb.
Who will use it? Schools, warehouses, and IDOE will use for the 2024-2025 school year.
When? The first phase of FDP 2.0 will be rolled out in December 2023 for school sponsors to complete the annual pre-order (forecast) survey in early 2024.
Why? The current FDP system will be retired for a more user friendly and updated system.
There will be more information forthcoming on access, logins, training and rollout phases in future newsletters.
We Want to Hear from You!
Although school is just beginning, we want to know which USDA Foods your school would like to see on the school year 2024-2025 annual pre-order (forecast) survey. The annual pre-order survey will open in early 2024. Please take a moment to complete the USDA Foods Wishlist Survey. If we receive enough interest, we may add these items to the survey. The deadline to provide your feedback is Friday, September 29.
Verification Webinar Series
Join IDOE for verification training. Each session will review specific parts of the traditional verification process.
Verification Methods
This training will review the three different methods of the traditional verification process and how to use each method correctly.
Preparing for Verification
This webinar will go through the preparation steps of traditional verification.
Direct Certification (DC) Basics
An important step in the verification process is to run DC prior to October 1 in order to certify as many students as possible. This presentation will be a repeat of the DC Basics webinars presented in July and August.
Direct Verification
Available again this year, the Direct Verification feature will open up within CNPweb. Please attend this webinar before using the feature to learn the best practices for utilizing this part of the verification process.
Processing Verification Information
This webinar will go over the steps for processing the information submitted by households as proof of income.
Annual Financial Report (AFR) Now Past Due
The 2023 AFRs were due Friday, September 1. If you have not submitted the 2023 AFR please submit the report no later than Friday, September 22, to avoid a delay in claims payment.
- All documentation used to complete the AFR should be retained on file for three years plus the current year and be readily available for an AFR validation at any time.
- If the Nonprofit Food Service Account (NPSFA) is charged indirect costs, please ensure all costs are calculated and charged to the account within 90 days from the last day of operation. Please note the NPSFA can only be charged up to the allowable approved percentage.
- If a sponsor does not have an approved indirect cost rate, they are allowed to charge up to 10%. Indirect costs cannot be assessed on or result in a negative balance.
- Confirm the beginning and ending balances are correct compared to the general ledger. Documentation may be required for validating and approving the 2023 AFR. If your balance does not match the previous year, please email SCNfinance@doe.in.gov with a detailed explanation.
- Written resources for completing the AFR can be found on the AFR drop down within the CNPweb Resources webpage.
If you have AFR questions, please reach out to SCNFinance@doe.in.gov and include your sponsor number and “AFR” in the subject line.
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Trainings
ICN is offering free, virtual instructor-led training sessions each month from September through December on a variety of topics for school food service employees. These sessions will not be recorded for later viewing.
- September- Keeping Food Safe
- October- Food Safety in Child Care
- November- Basic Culinary Math
- December- Financial Management for Managers
Learn more about these sessions and register here.
Produce Safety University (PSU) Continuing Education
Explore how to select the right thermometer for the right purpose, and how to take the most accurate readings. Discuss the fundamentals of walk-in coolers, how to best maintain and operate them, and some essential produce cooling techniques and practices. Following the presentation, instructors from the in-person PSU program will be available for an extended Q&A session, taking questions on all topics related to produce quality and safety, procurement, and preparation.
Tuesday, September 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. Register here.
Upcoming Dates |
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Tuesday, September 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Produce Safety University Continuing Education. Register here.
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Tuesday, September 19, at 3 p.m. ET
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Verification methods webinar. Register here.
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Thursday, September 21, at 3 p.m. ET
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Preparing for verification webinar. Register here.
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Tuesday, September 26, at 2 p.m. ET
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DC basics webinar. Register here.
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Thursday, September 28. at 10 a.m. ET
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Direct verification webinar. Register here.
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Friday, September 29
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July claims due date
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Tuesday, October 10, at 3 p.m. ET
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Processing verification information webinar. Register here.
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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