Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
- Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Opt-In Waiver for School Year 2020-2021 National School Lunch Program USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations
In accordance with section 2202(a) of the FFCRA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has established a nationwide opt-in waiver to help minimize the impact of coronavirus related school closures on USDA Foods entitlement calculations.
Due to widespread school closures resulting from COVID-19, there is a potential that reimbursable lunch counts will be reduced in Wisconsin. These reductions may result in decreases to the USDA Foods entitlement available to our state for SY 2020-21, which could lead to fewer USDA Foods provided in school meals.
Therefore, FNS waives Section 6(c)(1)(C) of the National School Lunch Act (NSLA), and our state may elect to opt-in to this waiver and forego the annual reconciliation process in November 2020.
If our state elects to opt-in to this waiver the following will occur:
- The preliminary SY 2020-21 entitlement level, based on SY 2018-19 lunch counts, which state agencies were assigned in January 2020 for placing SY 2020-21 orders, will be the final entitlement value assigned for SY 2020-21.
- In November 2021, reconciliation will occur as normal. In other words, SY 2021-22 USDA Foods entitlement will reflect lunches served in SY 2020-21.
The Wisconsin DPI will be conducting an analysis to determine if it is advantageous for our state to opt-in to the waiver. Since schools have 60 days to submit claims, the earliest we will be able to conduct this analysis is August 1 to get a firm understanding of the impact of school closures on our state’s entitlement. After this date, we will continue to develop guidance for our schools on SY 2020-21.
Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool Update Release
On July 10, FNS released updates to the Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool as part of ongoing operations, maintenance, and enhancements of the project. The update includes the addition of reward badges to motivate school nutrition professionals and make the process of completing annual training requirements fun.
New Feature Alert: Show what you know by earning reward badges!
Users of the tool can earn a badge for each key area (Nutrition, Operations, Administration, and Communication and Marketing) by completing one or more trainings under a specific key area. Users can also earn achievement badges (Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze) by completing training in more than one key area. Once annual training requirements are met, users can print their certificate, which will also display the badges they have earned.
- Earn a key area badge:
- Complete two trainings in any of the key areas (Nutrition, Operations, Administration, and Communication and Marketing) and earn a badge for that specific key area.
- Earn an achievement badge:
- Earn a badge in one out of the four key areas and receive a Bronze badge!
- Earn badges in two out of the four key areas and receive a Silver badge!
- Earn badges in three out of the four key areas and receive a Gold badge!
- Earn badges in all four key areas and receive a Platinum badge!
Visit https://pstrainingtracker.fns.usda.gov to start tracking your training hours today!
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
Q&A from June Stakeholder Calls
The Questions and Answers from our June Stakeholder Calls have been posted to our website. The document can be found on our Child Nutrition Program COVID-19 Information webpage under the Back to School Planning dropdown.
We are in the initial stages of planning the second round of stakeholder calls in early August. More information to come soon.
School Foodservice Guidance
We are working hard on additional guidance based on the instructional models mentioned in the DPI’s Education Forward: Reopening Schools Guidance. Thanks for your patience. More information to come soon.
Virtual ServSafe Exams
The SNT typically offers the ServSafe Course and Exam during the in-person summer training through School Nutrition Skills Development Courses (SNSDC). Due to social distancing recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, SNT is unable to provide in-person training this summer and therefore cannot proctor the ServSafe exam.
ServSafe has responded to the need for virtual exams by partnering with a third party, ProctorU, to provide online training and exam proctoring. By purchasing this ServSafe Manager course with Online Proctored Exam, individuals will take the online course at their own pace and have the ability to schedule the ServSafe exam at a time that is convenient for them.
Participants are required to have either a laptop or computer enabled with webcam and microphone to assist ProctorU in establishing a secure testing environment.
Unfortunately, SNT staff are unable to serve as ServSafe proctors for this virtual service. If you or any of your staff are interested in obtaining or renewing a ServSafe certificate this year, it is recommended that you independently complete the course and exam in the safety of your own home or workspace. Questions regarding this new process should be directed to ServSafe Customer Care.
Direct Certification (DC)
Reminder: Direct certification (DC) is currently up and running for the new school year. Each school food authority (SFA) is required to complete four DC runs per school year:
- First: beginning of year (between second week of July and first day of school);
- Second: three months later (around month of December);
- Third: six months after first run (around month of March);
- Fourth: between March 18 and April 1 (for CEP proxy report).
Exceptions: Community Eligibility Provision, Special Milk Program, and Residential Child Care Institutions (see the appropriate Calendar of Requirements).
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
This is a communication from the WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team.
You can contact the School Nutrition Team at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. To subscribe to schoolmealsnews, please send an email to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov.
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