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Friday, May 1 is School Lunch Hero Day, and today we celebrate you—the extraordinary school nutrition professionals who make North Dakota’s schools healthier, happier, and stronger every single day.
You adapt to new rules, changing menus, shifting expectations, and the challenges that come with every school year. Yet through it all, your mission never waivers: making sure every child is nourished, welcomed, and cared for. Your heart stays steady even when the world around you shifts.
You are the early morning champions warming up kitchens before the sun rises. You are the friendly faces greeting students with meals that fuel their learning. You are problem solvers, caregivers, protectors, and difference makers—all before most people have had their first cup of coffee.
Today, we honor your dedication, creativity, resilience, and heart. The impact of your work reaches far beyond cafeterias. You are heroes in every sense of the word.
On behalf of the DPI Child Nutrition Office, thank you for everything you give—year after year, day after day, tray after tray.
“Thank you for the incredible work you do each day—you inspire me to proudly share your successes and your challenges at the national level!” Lynelle Johnson, Director of Child Nutrition & Food Distribution
“I’m excited to celebrate you now and again this summer—your dedication keeps kids fed year-round, and it truly shines!” Melissa Anderson, Assistant Director / Summer Food Service Program
“Your positivity and patience make helping with your tech needs rewarding—thank you for all you do for kids and for keeping things running strong!” Scott Egge, Administrative Officer
“Your hard work, heart, and commitment to feeding students inspire me every single day—thank you for being heroes to North Dakota’s kids!” Rhonda Amundson, School Nutrition Programs Manager
“It’s a joy to see your passion in action on-site—thank you for cooking with heart and making such a difference for students!” Amy Nelson, Child Nutrition Specialist
“Watching your dedication firsthand reminds me why this work matters so much—thank you for bringing so much care to every meal you serve!” Kayla Ekart, Child Nutrition Specialist
“Your creativity and teamwork shine in every kitchen I visit—thank you for feeding students with such skill and enthusiasm!” Tonya Siirtola, Child Nutrition Specialist
“Thank you for making the most of every USDA Foods order—you turn resources into real meals and real smiles for kids!” Tara Koster, USDA Foods Manager
“To those running school-based childcare programs—thank you for nourishing the youngest learners with so much heart and dedication!” Stacie Morowski, CACFP Manager
“It’s amazing to see how you use FFVP to expose kids to variety —thank you for helping make this possible!” Kellen Leier, Child Nutrition Specialist
“Your enthusiasm for serving local foods brings North Dakota farms to life for students—thank you for championing fresh, healthy meals!” Amanda Olson, Farm to School Specialist
“Your great questions and daily dedication keep everything moving—thank you for the joy and commitment you bring to your schools!” Victoria Silva, Administrative Assistant
“Thank you for embracing new ideas and taking big steps—your efforts to reduce added sugars and improve nutritional quality is shaping a healthier generation of future leaders.” Emily Karel, Team Nutrition Grant Coordinator
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In many districts, “Authorized Representative” (AR) is treated like a title—but it’s actually a responsibility. The AR is accountable for ensuring that the National School Lunch Program (and Breakfast, Afterschool Snack, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, if applicable) is implemented correctly, consistently, and in compliance with federal and state requirements. That means regular, intentional oversight—not just a quick look from the serving line while you grab lunch.
We’ve included a kitchen walk‑through checklist that you can use during visits—ideally weekly, but at a minimum monthly. You don’t need a clipboard to do it, but having the checklist in hand the first few times can help you get familiar with what to look for and how the program runs day to day. More importantly, your presence in the kitchen shows staff that their work is valued. When cooks feel seen and supported, they’re far more likely to stay with your district year after year.
You’ll also find a separate list to guide monthly meetings with your kitchen manager. These meetings help ensure that everyone stays aligned on meal service, budgeting, training, and communication. Many program hiccups can be avoided simply through strong communication between departments.
Bottom line: Go into the kitchen. Ask questions. Look at records. Support your team. And if something doesn’t add up, call the Child Nutrition office.
As we approach the end of the school year, all School Food Authorities (SFAs) play an essential role in ensuring families know where to find free, nutritious meals for children during the summer months. Whether your district operates the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or not, there are important steps you can take to support families.
Families can find free Summer Meals sites starting May 11!
The Summer Meal Site Finder will be live starting on May 11, 2026. Please share the link with all your families. Don’t forget to add the Summer Meal Site Finder link to your communications!
To help you promote your local summer meal program, USDA provides a variety of ready‑to‑use communication tools suitable for newsletters, emails, bulletin boards, backpack mail, and social media.
Helpful Resources for Marketing Your SFSP:
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USDA Summer Communication Resources: Graphics, templates and sample text for your newsletters, emails, social media, bulletin boards, or backpack communications home!
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Newsletter Content: For a quick parent-ready option, check out Article 3, “SUN Meals,” here in English
Your efforts help ensure all families—whether staying in your community or traveling—know how to access free meals this summer.
For SFAs That Do Not Operate SFSP: Outreach Remains Required
A reminder to all School Food Authorities (SFAs)—including those not operating a summer feeding program—of the requirement in 7 CFR 210.12(d)(2) to expand awareness and access to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
All SFAs must inform families about organizations that provide free meals to children when school is not in session. Promoting local sites is encouraged, but because this is a nationwide program, families may also benefit from information about sites across North Dakota and throughout the United States.
Recommended Outreach Tools:
Remember to keep documentation of your outreach for your next NSLP Administrative Review. Corrective action may be required if you cannot demonstrate that outreach was completed.
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Please coordinate with your Authorized Representative to complete the application and return it to the Child Nutrition office by June 5, 2026. All returning schools from SY 25-26 only need to complete pages 3 and 6 of the application. All other schools must complete the entire application.
If you have any questions, please contact Kellen Leier at knleier@nd.gov.
Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2026-2027
As districts prepare budgets and plan for SY 2026–2027, it’s time to review meal pricing and Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) requirements.
The federal guidance for PLE remains the same as last year: SFAs with a zero or positive nonprofit school food service account balance as of June 30, 2025 are exempt from PLE requirements for SY 2026–2027.
During the School Nutrition Program renewal process, sponsors using this exemption will need to indicate “Yes” for the PLE exemption in the Sponsor Detail section and provide their June 30, 2025 balance.
Even if exempt, districts may still use the PLE tool to help determine appropriate lunch prices. Any sponsor with a negative balance as of June 30, 2025 must use the PLE tool to establish compliant paid lunch prices. The 2026–2027 Excel-based tool has not yet been released.
Quick Update: Adult Meal Pricing – SY 2026–2027
Schools operating under a non-pricing model (such as Provision 2 or CEP) must set adult meal prices at or above the free meal reimbursement rate plus commodity value. USDA will publish reimbursement rates for SY 2026–2027 in July.
Pricing schools should follow a similar formula: adult meal price = highest student price + paid meal reimbursement + commodity value.
Breakfast meals continue to have no commodity value included; use the highest student breakfast price plus the reimbursement received for a paid meal to set an adult breakfast price.
Join us for our final Across the Desk of the 2025-2026 School Year!
🕒 Time: 2 p.m. CDT
May topics will include:
- End of the Year updates and reminders
- Meal pricing
- PLE tool
- Non-program revenue tool
- Upcoming training and events
- SNP Renewals
- Bridge updates
Join us for our May Kitchen Counter Conversation focused on Top NSLP Review Findings from 2025-2026 School Year!
Join us as the Child Nutrition & Food Distribution Review Team recap the top findings from their NSLP Administrative Reviews. They will also share best practices for staying in compliance. If you are up for review next year or not, this will be a session you don't want to miss!
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New Kitchen Manager 'Boot Camp'
Are you new to your role as the Lead Food Service Worker? Attend our New Kitchen Manager Boot Camp to learn the basics of operating your School Nutrition Program as well as being more confident in your record keeping requirements.
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Date: Wednesday June 3, through Thursday, June 4, 2026
Location: Pioneer Room of the State Capitol building in Bismarck
No cost to register!
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Growing Connections: Farm to Child Nutrition Seminar
Join us for a day of cultivating partnerships for healthy kids and thriving farms - connecting local food with education and nutrition.
Location: North Dakota State Capitol | Brynhild Haugland Room-Bismarck, ND
Date: Thursday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Registration is free and lunch will be provided!
Join us for an exciting in-person seminar all about connecting the dots between local food and child nutrition! Discover tips, share ideas, and learn how local food can make a big difference in kids' lives. Whether you're a producer, educator, parent, or just curious—this event is packed with useful information about programs happening in North Dakota. Don't miss out on this chance to grow your knowledge and make lasting connections!
Join us for a full day of essential updates and training for the upcoming school year! These in-person workshops will cover critical changes to the School Nutrition Programs, including separate presentation tracks for:
Cost: $45 per session (includes lunch)
Workshop Locations & Dates:
Fargo
📅 Thursday, July 30
📍 Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo
👉 Register here for the Fargo BTSW
Minot
📅 Wednesday, August 5
📍 Sleep Inn
👉 Register here for the Minot BTSW
Bismarck
📅 Thursday, August 6
📍 University of Mary - Lumen Vitae University Center
👉 Register here for the Bismarck BTSW
The 2026 Annual NDSNA Conference 'Seasoned for Success', will take place in Fargo July 28 - July 29. Attendees will be able to take part in a vendor show, keynote speakers, a basket raffle & more!!
Farm to School
Harvest of the Month: Beef
As we begin the month of May, we are excited to highlight and celebrate Beef Month. This is a great opportunity to finish your Farm to School activities on a strong note by showcasing the role of beef in nutritious school meals.
We hope you were able to participate in the North Dakota Beef Commission Food Service Kit program. We look forward to seeing photos of your schools’ Beef Month celebrations throughout May.
A sincere thank‑you to the North Dakota Beef Commission for their continued support of our school nutrition programs and for providing engaging resources for students and staff. We look forward to seeing what they bring to our schools next year.
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Tray of the Month
Let’s keep celebrating the creativity and hard work happening in your cafeterias! Tray of the Month is a fun, optional activity to highlight the delicious meals you serve every day.
✔️ How to Enter
- Submit a high-resolution photo of a full lunch tray (all components + milk).
- Make sure the photo is well-lit and focused.
- Students and staff may be included—just ensure photo release forms are handled through your district’s process.
- Submit your photo to Amanda Olson at amolson@nd.gov
🥩 May: Beef Month & School Lunch Hero Day
Show off your favorite beef dish (extra points for local beef!) or your School Lunch Hero Day décor. Up to two submissions allowed. Due: May 29
Grant Opportunities
Starting From Scratch: A School Food Culinary Intensive
- Boulder, Colorado | November 6–9, 2026
- Join us for a first-of-its-kind, hands-on immersive experience designed specifically for the trailblazers of school food. Hosted by the Chef Ann Foundation in partnership with Boulder Valley School District, this three-day intensive immerses teams in production kitchens to master the culinary skills and operational systems essential for transitioning to a scratch-cooked program.
Applications are open through May 15, 2026: The Lunch Box | Starting From Scratch
NDSU Extension has made funds available for its staff to support youth gardening projects in North Dakota. Projects may receive up to $500. Apply NOW!
Funds may be used to purchase gardening supplies (for example, hand tools, soil, seeds, plants and containers), gardening books and other teaching supplies. Funds cannot be used for food, transportation, labor or major equipment.
Any project related to youth and gardening is eligible. Examples of possible projects include:
- The establishment of school gardens to promote the consumption of healthy foods.
- Summer gardening programs where kids learn how to grow vegetables and flowers.
- Food security gardens that grow vegetables to be donated to local food pantries.
- Construction projects such as building raised garden beds for the elderly.
- Beautification projects at schools, parks, museums or along streets.
The online application is available at https://forms.gle/VS6NfSyvCz3KR2aM7. It is brief and easy to complete. They are accepting applications now. Applicants will be informed by May 11 whether or not they will receive an award. This will be a quick process. Funds are limited.
Funds awarded this spring need to be used by June 9, 2026. Award recipients will work with Extension Horticulturist Tom Kalb to purchase the gardening supplies. For more information, please contact him at tom.kalb@ndsu.edu.
Health Innovation Grants are projects or programming proposals that are new or expanding, innovative and could be replicated by others if found successful. These grants are not intended to simply support current mission work or programming.
A Health Innovation Grant could include, but is not limited to:
- Expanding farm-to-school program providing access to local fresh foods, hands-on learning and a space to grow a positive relationship with food.
The next round of proposals and applications are due August 31, 2026.
Health Innovation Grants | BCBSND
Have a great end of the school year!
Even as we approach the end of the school year, students are still required to take a 1/2 cup of fruits or vegetables—along with two other items at breakfast or two other components at lunch—to receive a reimbursable meal. Sometimes a fresh reminder comes in the form of a new poster on the wall!
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NDDPI Child Nutrition and Food Distribution
Main Office:
600 E. Boulevard Ave, Dept 201
Bismarck, ND 58505
PHONE: 701-328-2294 or 888-338-3663
FAX: 701-328-9566
Email: dpicnfd@nd.gov
Mayville Office:
14 Main St E, Mayville, ND 58257
PHONE: 701-788-8901 or 888-788-8901
Website: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/child-nutrition-and-food-distribution
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027 (PDF), found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
- fax: 202-690-7442; or
- email: Program.Intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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