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School Nutrition Bulletin 2021-09

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)

Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 

Farm to Child Nutrition Programs
Though not an update, Farm to School Month is right around the corner. Check out this Farm to Child Nutrition Programs Planning Guide for developing a Farm to School plan for this school year.
 

Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team

 

IMPORTANT: Collecting Free and Reduced Price Meal Information for SY 2020-21
As you are making your decisions regarding which meal programs to utilize this school year, no matter what program you decide on, you need to continue to collect Free and Reduced Price Household Meal Applications, Alternate Household Income Forms (for Community Eligibility Provision schools and SFAs), determine eligibility, extend benefits, run Direct Certification, and complete Verification. The purpose behind this is to ensure you have the information needed for the change over to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (when USDA funding runs out) and for individual student data reporting purposes.
 
Program Decision Making Flowchart
In an effort to help your SFA decide which program to operate during SY 2020-21, we have created a Serving School Meals during SY 2020-21 Program Flow Chart.
 
Since there was another change in how schools/districts are feeding children school meals this school year, it was requested that a letter to parents be provided explaining options that are now available as of August 31, 2020. Please feel free to share the letter with your families.
 
Serving Meals during SY 2020-21 Office Hours
Come to a designated office hour to get your questions answered by a member of the SNT. Meetings are bi-weekly from 2 pm to 3pm and will go until the first week of October. If you cannot attend, each meeting will be recorded and can be accessed using the join links. The second meeting information is below. Additional dates and times are posted under the Stakeholder Calls & Office Hours heading on the School Meals COVID webpage.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
2:00PM - 3:00PM (1 hour)
Join or call (608) 620-9781 (Conference ID: 416 248 445#)
 
Changes in Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements
The USDA recently announced that the 2018 Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, December 12, 2018) has been vacated due to a court ruling on the matter. School meal patterns must return to the 2012 standards, defined in 7 CFR 210.10(c) and 220.8(c), as follows:
  • Flavored milk may be only non-fat in the NSLP, SBP, and CACFP;
  • All grains served in the NSLP and SBP must be whole-grain rich; and,
  • School meals offered through the NSLP and SBP must meet Target 2 weekly sodium levels.
FNS understands that procurement for SY 2020-2021 was underway when this court decision was rendered. Therefore, SFAs may apply for a nationwide Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver if the 2012 requirements cannot be met for SY 2020-2021. Please complete the Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver for SY 2020-21 if you would like to continue operating under the 2018 requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. All SFAs, including those who apply for the Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver for SY 2020-21, must return to the 2012 requirements for the 2021-2022 school year.
 
Updated Template Medical Statement for School Year 2020-21!
A new template Medical Statement is found on our Special Dietary Needs webpage. This accessible template is a fillable PDF that can be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. This form is not required to be used. Fillable Spanish and Hmong versions coming soon.
 

Other Updates and Information

 

2020 Great Apple Crunch
Thursday, October 8, 2020 or anytime in October!
 
Join the 2020 Great Apple Crunch to celebrate Wisconsin farmers, healthy kids, and strong communities this October. Participating in the Crunch is simple: buy, serve, and Crunch into locally grown apples! Since 2014, we have highlighted National Farm to School Month and our local farmers with MILLIONS of Crunches across the region. We know the Crunch will look different this year AND we are still excited to creatively Crunch together. Register your Crunch to make it official, add to the Crunch count, get the scoop on serving local apples during COVID-19, and receive the Crunch Guide and weekly newsletter. Schools, ECE sites, hospitals, colleges, groups, and families are invited to Crunch to reach our goal of TWO MILLION CRUNCHES this year!
 
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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.
dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock