Tuesday, June 8, 2021
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 (SNT)
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Share Your Child Nutrition Program Trainings and Resources on the Child Nutrition Sharing Site!
The Child Nutrition Sharing Site (CNSS) is an online information center hosted by the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) that provides child nutrition programs (CNPs) with an avenue for sharing resources related to program operations.
CNP operators are invited to submit their resources that other programs may find useful to the CNSS, using the online Resource Submission Form available on the CNSS site. This will help ICN to build a reservoir of resources that will ensure child nutrition professionals have access to helpful tools, templates, training curriculums, videos, and information that support CNP operations. ICN is currently accepting resources on CNP topics such as menu planning, meal pattern requirements, nutrition education, program financial management, COVID-19, emergency preparedness, procurement, and more! Submitted resources are posted and shared through the CNSS Resource Hub.
To submit your resources to the CNSS, visit the Submission Form. The CNSS submission form will walk you through the following steps:
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Step 1: Read through ICN's CNSS Submission Guide so you know what to expect after you submit your resource to the CNSS. ICN is on standby for any questions you may have at cnss@theicn.org.
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Step 2: Indicate if your resource is for CN programs or if your resource is specifically for Farm to School. Enter information about your resource in the CNSS resource submission form.
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Step 3: Upload your resource files or provide links to your program's webinars and training videos. ICN accepts Microsoft Word documents, PowerPoint slides, Excel spreadsheets, PDF files, video files, and more!
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Step 4: Provide your contact information. You will receive a confirmation email after your resource is submitted, an email notification if there are questions about your resource, and a final email notice when your resource has been approved and added to the CNSS.
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Step 5: Click the submit button and your resource and information will be sent to ICN.
After ICN receives your resource, ICN will review the resource to ensure it is relevant and appropriate for CNPs. It will also be reviewed to ensure all hyperlinks are active. You will receive feedback regarding your resource within six to eight weeks of receipt by ICN. When the volume of submissions is high, this timeframe may be extended. If the resource is approved, it is automatically posted to the CNSS Resource Hub and categorized accordingly. You will be sent a direct URL to the resource at the email address you provided.
In collaboration with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Community Food Systems, ICN has added a Farm to School topic area to the CNSS Resource Hub! ICN is currently building the Farm to School database and welcomes YOUR Farm to School resource submissions through the CNSS resource submission form.
Coming Soon: Nutrition, Allergen, and Ingredient Information Available for USDA Foods in Schools
FNS is working on an initiative to make nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information for select USDA Foods direct delivery products available for States and school districts.
Through this initiative, FNS is leveraging an existing partnership with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Branded Foods Database to use the GS1 Global Data Synchronization Network TM (GS1 GDSN), a global database that makes it possible for vendors to share product information seamlessly and to provide vendor-specific nutrition information to States and school districts. This information will help to inform menu planning decisions and assist school districts in developing menus that are compliant with Federal requirements for school meals.
USDA Foods vendors will be required to submit nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information in GS1 GDSN by December 31, 2021 for select direct delivery USDA Foods scheduled to be delivered beginning January 1, 2022. Fresh produce, most consumer-sized products, and bulk products for further processing are exempt from this requirement. Check out our List of Products that will be required to be entered into GS1 GDSN.
States and school districts will be able to access this information on the FNS website in a non-editable Excel spreadsheet that will be updated monthly. States and school districts will now be able to compare nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information across vendors and will be able to access this information more efficiently. Each material that is required to be entered into GS1 GDSN will contain the following information:
- USDA material code number
- Brand name
- Nutrition facts and serving size
- Allergen information
- Ingredients
- Kosher certification
FNS is excited to implement this streamlined process that will allow States and school districts to access vendor-specific nutrition information. Providing vendor-specific information will help to increase confidence and satisfaction with USDA Foods. FNS will host a webinar in late summer to provide more details on this new initiative.
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT)
New Resource: Let’s Cook, Wisconsin School Meals Rock! Cycle Menu
The School Nutrition Team created a NEW cycle menu with five complete weeks of lunch menus including recipes. This project replaces the “On, Wisconsin!” menus. Each week includes all necessary components and portion sizes to meet the K-8 or 9-12 age/grade meal patterns, including the nutrient specifications for each age/grade group. Recipes for 50 or 100 servings, with crediting, are provided to encourage scratch-cooking and variety in school meals. A sampling of recipes includes Bahn Mi Sandwiches, North African Gumbo, and Tuscan Grilled Cheese. Find these resources on the Let’s Cook, Wisconsin School Meals Rock! webpage.
Annual State Aid Match Payments
The annual state match and aids payments for National School Lunch (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Elderly Nutrition Improvement (EN), and Wisconsin School Day Milk Program (WSDMP) that are based on programs your School Food Authority (SFA) participated in during the school year (SY) 2019-20, have been processed. The Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) effective date is June 1, 2021, for these annual payments. They are recorded on the Aids Register. Please see the Public School Memo and the Private School Memo from Jacqueline Jordee, Accountant, for details about how to record them in the Annual Financial Report for School Nutrition Programs.
School Nutrition Skills Development Courses (SNSDC) Registration is now open!
Virtual live SNSDC will be offered the weeks of July 19 and August 9, 2021. Registration is now open (July, August). Course descriptions, schedules, and more information can be found on the SNSDC Webpage. All courses are free of charge, however advanced registration is required.
Contract Renewal for School Year 2021-22 Deadline Approaching
Please see the Contract Renewal Memo that was sent to Authorized Representatives and Food Service Directors on May 18, 2021 for information about contract renewal for the upcoming 2021-22 school year.
The school nutrition contract is reflective of program operations from July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022. The SY 2021-22 Contract Manual provides instructions for entering and renewing your online contract and includes modifications and clarifications for SSO. We recommend you read the Contract Manual in its entirety before renewing your contract.
Important Contract Renewal Dates:
| Dates | Contract Activity |
| May 18, 2021 | Contract renewal opens for SY 2021-22. |
| May 18– June 11, 2021 | Enter and submit your SY 2021-22 contracts through the SNT Online Services Portal |
| June 11, 2021 | Contract renewals for SY 2021-22 due |
| June 30, 2021 | SY 2021-22 Program Operations Application due |
If you have any questions about renewing your contract, please email dpifns@dpi.wi.gov or call 608-267-9228.
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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. dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock