Production Records
Production records are required and prove that the meal pattern has been met. Records are reviewed during the Administrative Review and must be kept for each meal, each day of the week. All personnel playing a part in production should complete the section of the production record for the items they prepare, in real time, as items are being made and immediately following the end of meal service. Best practice would be to check the work of each kitchen’s records regularly to ensure continued compliance. Check out IDOE’s production record review form that can be used for this purpose. Review the production record course on Moodle for additional training.
Not using the IDOE template production record? Make sure the record that is used meets the USDA requirements for production records. A detailed list of these requirements can be found in the updated Menu Planner for School Meals on page 131.
USDA Farm to School Census
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has contracted with Decision Information Resources (DIR) and Mathematica to conduct the 2023 Farm to School Census with all public, charter, and private school food authorities (SFAs) that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) nationwide. Your full participation is crucial to ensure that the census data is representative of all SFAs in the country and in your Indiana.
On Monday, October 2, DIR will e-mail a link to the census and instructions from Farm2SchoolCensus@dir-online.com. When completing the census, provide information about your SFA for school year 2022-2023. The census will be open through December 2023. In the email with the census link, you will also receive an invitation to a webinar open to all SFAs that will provide an overview of the census, guidance on filling out different sections, and an opportunity to ask questions. You are encouraged to attend to learn more about this important research effort. Responding to FNS research requests is required under the National School Lunch Act, and it is important that all SFAs participate, regardless of their participation in farm to school activities.
The Farm to School Census is the best tool for collecting important information to help support your farm to school efforts. If you are curious about how results will be used, results of the 2019 Farm to School Census can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact the project team toll-free at 866-986-2230 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, or e-mail Farm2SchoolCensus@dir-online.com.
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to End Pandemic EBT (PEBT) Card Replacement Requests
PEBT funding ended May 11, 2023 in conjunction with the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency. Indiana FSSA Division of Family Resources considers all issuances complete as of September 22, 2023. Benefits are not usable without a physical card. PEBT card replacement requests will no longer be accepted as of Thursday, September 28. Any pending requests for replacement cards will be completed as of Friday, September 29. No additional replacement card requests will be processed after these dates.
SFAs, please share this urgent message widely with parents of students in your corporation.
Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Funds Rounds Two and Three Remaining Distributions and Upcoming Round Four
For those who applied, SCA remaining funds for rounds two and three have been disbursed and should appear under the payments tab in CNPweb. The comments listed in the ACH deposit notification will be SC2_2 for the round two disbursement and SC3_2 for round three. The deposits should be within a few days of one another. Please remember all SCA Funds must be deposited into the School Foodservice Account (0800) and used specifically for the purchase of food as described in the SCA Funds Q&A.
Receive an unexpected payment?
View the Payments tab (next to the Claims tab), find the amount that was paid, and then click the arrow (>) to the far left under Batch Number. The description of the payment will identify what items are included in the payment amount. Additionally, if the payment is less than expected, the description will show deductions, such as USDA Foods storage fees. All supply chain funds show under the Other column on the payments tab (see screenshot below). If there is not payment information in PY 2024, check the PY 2023 payments tab.
SCA funds for round four will be announced later this fall. Please watch for the announcement and details in the weekly newsletter. For additional guidance for school with FSMCs click here. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact scnfinance@doe.in.gov and include SCA and your sponsor number in the subject line.
Coming Soon: Farm to School Month
Farm to School Month is just around the corner, which means that Indiana Food Day and Indiana Apple Crunch are on the horizon as well! Haven't registered yet to participate in these events? There is still time to do so by visiting the Food Day website or Apple Crunch website. If you have already signed up for either or both events, you will receive your toolkit via email soon. The toolkits have all you need to celebrate great local food in your schools! Questions about Farm to School, Indiana Food Day, or Indiana Apple Crunch can be submitted to f2s@doe.in.gov.
USDA Foods: Forecasting for the Future - A Panel Discussion
IDOE will host a virtual panel discussion and training session on forecasting USDA Foods. Join us Tuesday, October 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET. Panelists will discuss topics ranging from entitlement, utilizing USDA Foods tools and calculators to determining processor pounds. Registration is required for this event. Click here to register.
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.
Food Day 2023 - Local Protein
IDOE Food Day 2023 celebrates local protein! Protein doesn’t just mean meat, but could also include eggs, beans, cheese, and yogurt! SFAs can celebrate any day in the month of October. Unsure where to start? Check out this upcoming webinar presented by Cathy Powers for support:
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Using Local Proteins in Child Nutrition Recipes
Virtual Culinary Skills for A+ Training
Join Chef Cathy Powers for virtual Culinary Skills for A+ Meals training from the comfort of your own kitchen! Cathy and team will lead school nutrition professionals through specific skills for the topic of the week. Training will feature live chef demonstrations, efficiency techniques, and important nutritional insights.
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Knife Skills - Cutting Fruit, Thursday, September 21, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. ET. Register here.
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Knife Skills - Cutting Vegetables, Tuesday, September 26, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. ET Register here.
Verification Webinar Series
Join IDOE for verification training. Each session will review specific parts of the traditional verification process.
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.
CNPweb Approvals
Anxious to file the first claim for reimbursement in the new school year? First, ensure that your CNPweb application is pending approval. This means the sponsor info sheet and site info sheets are filled out without errors and required items on the checklist tab are submitted (either uploaded or sent via email to the eligible recipient).
Does your application still say pending submission? If the previously mentioned items are complete then most likely you need to click the green button at the top of the checklist tab to push your application into pending approval.
IDOE is working as quickly as possible to process the submissions in the order in which they were submitted. Sponsors with a July claim for submission must complete the application prior to the July claims due date of Friday, September 29.
Clicking “Help” at the top of the CNPweb in the purple ribbon can provide you a link to CNPweb Instructions and the CNPweb Help Form, which can be used for all questions related to CNPweb including user profile and login assistance, sponsor and site information sheets help, and other troubleshooting.
Dairy in Español- Virtual Farm Tour
Learn farming and dairy words in Spanish and see how dairy farmer Ashley continues to use her knowledge as a Spanish teacher back on the dairy farm.
Loehmer Dairy in Monterrey, Indiana is home to lots of cows, calves, and corn - all words you'll learn in Spanish on the virtual farm tour! You'll also be able to meet some of the calves on the farm and see how they grow up. Students can ask questions live to Farmer Ashley, and interactive quizzes will help students learn Spanish.
*The tour will be hosted in English and is open to students of all ages.
Friday, September 22, at 10 a.m. ET
Find out more here.
Upcoming Dates |
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Tuesday, September 21, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. ET
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Knife Skills - Cutting Fruit 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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Friday, September 22, at 10 a.m. ET
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Dairy in Español - Virtual farm tour
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Tuesday, September 26, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. ET
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Knife Skills - Cutting Vegetables 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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Thursday, September 28, at 2 p.m. ET
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Using Local Proteins in Child Nutrition Recipes webinar. Register here.
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Friday, September 29
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July claims due date
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Tuesday, October 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
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USDA Foods: Forecasting for the Future - A Panel Discussion. Register here.
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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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