Nutrition Program Updates for the Week of March 12, 2018

department of education

Nutrition Program Updates for the Week of March 12, 2018


School Nutrition Program Updates


Professional Standards for Hiring New Directors at Small Schools

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a proposed rule on Hiring Flexibility Under Professional Standards on March 6, 2018. The proposed rule would add flexibility to program requirements for hiring new directors at smaller school food authorities (7 CFR 210.30).

The proposed rule would add flexibility for hiring new school nutrition directors at small local educational agencies (LEAs):

  • For LEAs with fewer than 2,500 students, a new applicant for director would be required to have relevant food service experience rather than school nutrition program experience. Volunteer or unpaid work experience may count as relevant food service experience, at the discretion of MDE.
  • For LEAs with fewer than 500 students, a new applicant for director may have fewer than the required number of years of food service experience when the applicant has the minimum required education, at the discretion of MDE.

To submit questions and comments or review others’ comments, visit the Federal Register website.

The deadline for your feedback ends May 7, 2018.

 

Interactive Food Buying Guide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the new digital Food Buying Guide in two versions; web-based and mobile (for iPhones or Android). These new versions are interactive, with features that make it easier to search for specific products, compare yields and create a favorite foods list. To view the web-based version, go to Food Buying Guide (USDA) or download the mobile versions from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

MDE will be hosting a webinar titled “Using the Food Buying Guide” on March 27 at 2 p.m. as part of the Tuesdays@2 training series. This webinar will provide an introduction to using the web-based version of the Food Buying Guide, as well as an overview and how to use it to determine the creditable portions for school meals. Register for the March 27 Using the Food Buying Guide webinar.

 

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application

Applications for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) will be open beginning March 14. The award period is anticipated to be July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.

Applications are due by April 26, 2018, 11:59 p.m., CST.

Eligible applicants must:

  1. Be an elementary school; and
  2. Currently participate in the National School Lunch Program; and
  3. Have at least 50 percent or more of its students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Funding priority will be given to schools with the highest level of free and reduced-price eligibility. October 2017 Minnesota Automated Reporting Student System (MARSS) data will be used to determine enrollment of free and reduced-price meal percentages. These numbers will be automatically calculated and uploaded into the CLiCS application. 

Recipients of the FFVP will offer free fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options to elementary school students during the school day. This program creates healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expands the variety of fruits and vegetables students experience, increases students’ fruit and vegetable consumption, and makes a difference in their diets to impact their present and future health.

The application instructional packet along with the supplemental documentation are available on the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program homepage.

School food authorities can begin their application by logging into Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS).

For detailed information related to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, visit our FFVP website.

 

Tuesdays@2 Webinars

A variety of topics will be offered during this year’s Tuesdays@2 webinar series. All webinars begin at 2 p.m. and will be 30-60 minutes in length, unless otherwise noted. Registration and session information will be posted on the Training: School Nutrition Programs webpage.

 

Upcoming Webinars 

March 20 – Responding to an Administrative Review Corrective Action

Your administrative review is complete. There are a few “Findings” you need to respond to. This session will provide some best practice suggestions for responding to administrative review findings.

Registration – Responding to an Administrative Review Corrective Action

 

March 27 – Using the Food Buying Guide

If you haven’t pulled your Food Buying Guide off the shelf recently, this is the session for you. This session will provide an overview of the Food Buying Guide and how to use it to determine creditable portions for school meals.

Registration – Using the Food Buying Guide

 

April 3 – Breakfast Encourages Students to Thrive (BEST)!

Learn about MDE’s new “BE Your Best” resources to promote the School Breakfast Program, increase participation rates, expand your service options, and effectively communication with students, staff, and parents.

Registration – Breakfast Encourages Students to Thrive

 

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