Nutrition Program Bulletin – Week of December 21, 2020
Each section contains updates relevant to those nutrition programs. You can jump to the section by clicking the link.
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Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Nutrition, Health, and Youth Development Division would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.
Please note that our offices will be closed on Friday, December 25, 2020, and Friday, January 1, 2021.
We look forward to working with you in 2021!
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Holiday Payment Processing Ready
Child Nutrition Program payments for claims submitted the week of December 14-18, 2020, will be issued and/or deposited on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, ahead of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) closing. Please note that claims submitted during the week of December 21-25, 2020, will be processed on Friday, December 25, 2020, and paid per the usual schedule.
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Updated “Safe Learning Plan”: Face Coverings and Meal Service
As Minnesota continues to prioritize in-person learning for young learners, the Safe Learning Plan has been updated. Starting on January 18, 2021, every elementary school across the state may choose to operate an in-person learning model, as long as they are able to implement all updated health and safety measures. Middle and high schools will continue to use the original process for determining their learning model.
How does this affect school nutrition programs?
For elementary schools that choose to operate in-person learning, the guidance requires that elementary schools keep students and staff in small cohort groups that stay together as much as possible throughout the day and from day to day. Schools should limit mixing between cohort groups (e.g., during lunch, bathroom breaks, arrival and dismissal, free periods, recess). This means that student meal times should be held in the classroom if six feet of physical distancing between students cannot be accommodated in the cafeteria and cohorts cannot be clearly separated within the cafeteria. If meal times need to be held in the classroom, schools may have meals delivered to the classroom or have students bring food from the cafeteria back to their classrooms to eat. It is recommended that middle and high school students be grouped in cohorts as well, if possible.
An additional update for any school that implements in-person or hybrid learning is that face masks and face shields must be worn together by school staff at all times. This applies to school food service staff, with limited exceptions (See MDH Food Service Worker Safety Information: Guidance for School Food Programs).
Upcoming Statewide Student Assessment and Serving Student Meals
Starting in January, schools will be conducting statewide student assessments. Depending on the learning model of your school/district, students who are normally in distance learning may be coming to school. School nutrition programs are allowed to serve and claims meals for students who are attending school for statewide assessments. We recognize that there may be overlap in the meals a student receives, and we encourage School Food Authorities (SFAs) to do the best that is logistically possible not to duplicate meals. For distance learners, who receive a multi-day meal pack, SFAs might consider options such as a special “assessment week meal pack/delivery” that would account for the meals the students receive at school. SFAs should also communicate to families that students will be receiving meals at school on statewide assessments days.
New! COVID-19 Resources for Minnesota Schools and Out of School Time Programs
The Minnesota Departments of Education and Health have a new resource available which provides up-to-date guidance on COVID-19 for staff who work in schools and out of school time programs. New content will be added throughout the school year. The trainings and resources are available in the Canvas Learning Management system and focus on the following topics:
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Health and Safety – currently available
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Out of School Time – currently available
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School Meal Programs – currently available
- Physical Education and Physical Activity – currently available
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Mental Health – coming soon
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Social and Emotional Learning – coming soon
Instructions for accessing the resources:
For best performance, Canvas should be used on the following internet browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Contact mde.healthyyouth@state.mn.us if you have questions.
Tuesdays @ 2 Webinars
Join school nutrition staff for a training webinar every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Read session descriptions and register for Tuesdays @ 2 webinars. There is no webinar on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.
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Procuring a Food Service Management Contract (January 5, 2021)
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Procurement Standards of Conduct and Written Procedures (January 12, 2021)
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SFSP/SSO Operations Requirements Overview (January 19, 2021)
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