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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released several policy memos. The Keep Kids Fed Act extended key waivers to support meal access for summer 2022. All SFSP operations should continue to support the return to "normal" operations and support meal access to children in need. The intent of these waivers is to provide additional support for this transition.
Requests to use these waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and only for the extent and duration necessary.
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COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #113- Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions for Summer 2022 Operations – EXTENSION 4
- This waiver applies to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
- This waives the requirements on the amount of time that must elapse between meal services, and the duration of a meal service.
- This waiver allows more than one eligible meal to be served at one time.
- This waiver is in effect through September 30, 2022.
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COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #112- Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for Summer 2022 Operations – EXTENSION 7
- This waiver applies to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
- This waiver allows parents and guardians to pick up meals for their children.
- Program operators must maintain program integrity and ensure duplicate meals are not distributed.
- This waiver is in effect through September 30, 2022.
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COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #111- Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Feeding for Summer 2022 Operations – EXTENSION 7
- This waiver applies to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
- This waiver allows meals to be served in a non-congregate meal setting. Requests to only provide non-congregate feeding will be considered for specific circumstances, and congregate feeding must continue once feasible and safe to do so.
- This waiver is in effect through September 30, 2022.
Last week, USDA released additional policy memos, including:
A list of these waivers and a summary can be found on the COVID-19 Nutrition & Meals Guidance webpage.
Questions? Please email your program specialist or the CNS Team inbox
OSPI has awarded funds to program sites to operate the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in SY 22–23. A total of 225 schools have been offered grant funds to increase access to fresh produce as well as provide nutrition education. Congratulations to recipients! Awarded sites and funding amounts can be viewed on the FFVP webpage.
Annual Training Requirement
Training is required to participate in this program.
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New FFVP Sponsors
Sponsors that did not operate FFVP during SY 21–22 must attend in-person training. This training will be conducted as part of the SY 22–23 School Meal Programs Annual Training. Registration information is located on the School Meal Programs Training webpage, under the School Meal Program Annual Training dropdown.
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Returning FFVP Sponsors
Sponsors who operated FFVP in SY 21–22 have the option of attending in-person or virtual training.
Questions? Please email Rachel Floyd, Special Programs Specialist.
Applications for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) are due by August 30 for Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI) and September 30 for Local Education Agencies (LEA).
Bulletins with supplemental attachments will be released in the coming days. Please keep an eye out for CNS Updates.
Resources
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS School Meals Program Specialist.
Sponsors who contracted with Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs) for school year 2021–22 are required to submit reconciliation of USDA foods received.
This report must be submitted to OSPI Child Nutrition Services (CNS) before the last day of your 2021–22 FSMC agreement. If CNS does not receive your reconciliation, we may not approve your FSMC Fact Sheet for school year 2022–23.
The following compliance requirement is documented in each sponsor's original FSMC agreement:
- Sponsors must conduct a reconciliation at least annually (and upon termination of the FSMC contract) to ensure that the FSMC has credited it for the value of all USDA donated foods received for use in the sponsors food service in the school year including USDA Direct Foods, the DOD fresh fruits & vegetable program and USDA Foods diverted for processing. [7 CFR 250.51(a)]
How to Submit
Submit your reconciliation via email to Jeff Booth, Audit and Financial Manager, and cc Marlon Hopkins, Foods Distribution Supervisor.
Important Updates for Public Schools Renewing Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Contracts
OSPI Child Nutrition Services (CNS) is no longer applying the 10% materiality cap for increases to fixed meal prices for public schools renewing FSMC contracts or bidding out food services for School Year (SY) 2022–23. The main purpose for having this in the FSMC contract template was to cap cumulative fixed price increases over the life of the contract. The cap no longer applies given the high inflationary rates we are experiencing.
Fixed price increases are limited to the percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers under the Food Away from Home category for the 12-month period ending March 2022. Increases greater than 6.9% are material and OSPI CNS may require the sponsor to go back out to bid.
OSPI CNS will continue reviewing and approving SY 2022–23 FSMC contracts.
Questions about food service contracting? Please email Jeff Booth or Brenda Merritt.
The Child Nutrition Database (CNDB), Release 25, is now available! The CNDB is a required part of the nutrient analysis software approved by USDA for use in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. It is a nutrient database of over 10,000 food items.
Software companies must submit to the USDA their nutrient analysis and certification of compliance software with the updated CNDB annually by July 1 to maintain USDA approval.
Action Steps for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Local Schools:
After July 1, 2022, LEAs, and local schools should verify with their nutrient analysis software company to ensure that the software includes the most current version of the Child Nutrition Database (version CN25).
You can find the current CNDB on the USDA Team Nutrition webpage.
The USDA-approved software lists are found here:
School Meal Programs Annual Training will be held 8/8 & 8/9 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.
Who Should Attend?
This training is meant to enhance your knowledge about the School Meal Programs and allow time for you to connect to other School Food Service Directors around the state. Training is free to attend; however, participants must pay for meals, parking, and any overnight stays.
CWU is a cashless campus, meaning parking and any meals paid for on site must be paid for with a debit or credit card. CWU has a kiosk to put cash onto a card, if needed.
Registration Information
- Each participant must register for the event using their own pdEnroller account.
- While there is an option to register more than one attendee with one account, you will not be able to register each person for different sessions. Due to this issue, we recommend each participant to register with their own account.
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Create your free pdEnroller account if you do not have one already.
- Please limit attendance to 3 people per LEA to ensure all who are interested in attending may have the opportunity.
- Registrants will receive a confirmation email with their selected sessions, keep this email for your records!
Register for the SY 22–23 School Meal Programs Annual Training today!
Dates
- Monday, August 8 - Pre-Con Day
- New Director Training | 12–4 pm
- Are you new to the School Meal Programs? This session is aimed at new Food Service Directors and Managers. Join us for a 4-hour, interactive overview of Performance Standard 1: Certification & Benefit Issuance, Performance Standard 2: Meal Pattern Requirements, and General Areas with the goal to set you up for a successful school year.
- Participants will receive 4 hours of Professional Standards Credits for this session.
- SY 2022–23 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Annual Training | 1–4 pm
- Did you get funding to operate the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the upcoming school year? Join this pre-con session to review the program. Required for new FFVP operators, this session is appropriate for returning sponsors as well.
- Participants will receive 3 hours of Professional Standards Credits for this session.
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Tuesday, August 9 - Annual Training—Planned training sessions will include a variety of topics for both new and seasoned staff. Best Practice: Review the Annual Training Schedule to review session descriptions and class times before registering! Participants may receive up to 6 Professional Standards Credits for attending the full day training.
Recorded Training Option
All planned trainings will be recorded and posted to the School Meal Programs Annual Training Moodle course for those who are unable to attend this in-person training. Maximize your Professional Standards Credits by viewing all trainings! Please note: You must have a Moodle Account to access these annual trainings.
Questions? Please email Sam Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
Join us for a Scratch Cooking Recipe Development Training following the WSNA Conference in Spokane on Wednesday, July 27!
At this free, half-day training, you’ll learn the basics of recipe standardization from how to find and analyze a starting recipe through taste testing and scaling to volume. Other useful scratch cooking topics such as planning for success, using local ingredients, and how to promote your new recipes will also be covered.
Register for the Scratch Cooking Recipe Development Training
Date: Wednesday, July 27
Time: 1–5 pm PT
This training will be most useful for nutrition professionals responsible for scratch recipe development and menu planning.
This training will be repeated in three additional locations around the state in October. For additional information about this or other Team Nutrition Grant activities email Erica Lamson, Team Nutrition Grant Coordinator.
The Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) is statewide nonprofit association of child nutrition food service professionals with the goal of providing nutritious meals for children while placing a strong emphasis on continuing education for professionals.
Annual Summer Conference
WSNA's Annual State Conference is the event to be at! Join your fellow WSNA members to learn new things and have some fun! View the Conference At A Glance for an overview of the event.
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Spokane City Center
Dates: Monday, July 25–Wednesday, July 27
Cost: Early Bird Rates are extended until July 8!
Members—$140, Non-Members–$165
Ready to sign up? See the WSNA Conference webpage for more info!
Contact Mindy Cass, WSNA Executive Director, for additional information and scholarship opportunities!
| July 7 |
SY 22–23 Renewal Application Opens in WINS |
| July 15 |
June Claims Due in WINS |
| August 1 |
May 60-day Claiming Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim |
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August 3
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Last day to update webpages and documents with the updated USDA Child Nutrition Programs Nondiscrimination Statement.
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| August 8–9 |
SY 22–23 School Meal Programs In-Person Annual Training |
| August 30 |
RCCIs - Deadline to Submit SY 22–23 Renewal Application |
| September 30 |
LEAs - Deadline to Submit SY 22–23 Renewal Application |
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