Tuesday, December 21, 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)
- Other Updates and Information
The DPI SNT would like to wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season. We wish you peace, joy, health, and love. Happy Holidays!
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Supply Chain Assistance Funds
On December 17, 2021, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published policy memo SP 03-2022, Allocation of Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Funds to Alleviate Supply Chain Disruptions in the School Meal Programs with attached Q&A Guidance. This release details for State Agencies guidance on the distribution of up to $1 billion in relief funding made available through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, provided to assist school food authorities (SFAs) with addressing supply chain disruptions. Wisconsin will receive $17,238,862.
This critical funding stream will provide additional financial resource for SFAs to use in response to widespread economic challenges, enhance efforts to strengthen local food supply chains, and help schools to overcome financial and operational barriers while maintaining children’s access to nutritious meals. These additional resources will complement the support and flexibilities FNS is providing to SFAs and States for school year 2021-22 as they work to provide nutritious school meals to children during these challenging times.
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT)
SY 2021-22 Monitoring and Oversight Plan Approved by USDA
The USDA provided State Agencies the opportunity to apply for a monitoring and oversight waiver for school year (SY) 2021-22. The School Nutrition Team applied for the following waivers, which were approved by USDA on December 14, 2021. The following waivers are available to all applicable School Food Authorities (SFA), no waiver form is required to be submitted.
- All Administrative Reviews (ARs) planned for SY 2021-22 are postponed until SY 2022-23. In lieu of ARs, we have already started conducting Seamless Summer Option (SSO) technical assistance calls with all SFAs. These calls offer the opportunity to ask questions and get one-on-one assistance from both a Public Health Nutritionist and a Nutrition Program Consultant.
- The deadline to complete SFA-level onsite Monitoring for breakfast and lunch has been extended from February 1 to June 30, 2022. With staffing shortages and other challenges schools are faced with this year, this allows SFAs additional time to complete the monitoring process. We still strongly encourage the monitoring to be completed as soon as able, to ensure the program is operating within program requirements. Please note that the onsite portion of the monitoring may be completed as a desk audit, if elected as part of your SFAs Program Operations Application.
- The Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) monitoring requirements have been waived for SY 2021-22. All SFAs operating the ASP are normally required to complete monitoring of sites two times per year. This requirement is waived for SY 2021-22. All SFAs are still encouraged to complete the monitoring process, as a desk audit, to ensure program compliance.
More information on the monitoring requirements and forms are located on the On-site Monitoring Webpage.
Equipment Grant Application Update
Thank you to all School Food Authorities (SFAs) that applied for the 2021 Equipment Grant. The application is now closed. The Equipment Grant Specialists will review part 1 applications. SFAs will be notified in February if they can proceed to part 2 and collect bids.
Looking Ahead at School Year (SY) 2022-23
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought some unique challenges to school nutrition programs. USDA has issued over 100 waivers to give SFAs the flexibility they need to continue to operate during this time. Currently, USDA’s authority to extend the waivers ends June 30, 2022. We are hearing that the current plan is to transition back to the “normal” National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs in SY 2022-23. Students would need to establish eligibility for school meals and schools would have to qualify to participate in the Summer Food Service Program or the Seamless Summer Option over summer 2022.
Of course, this could all change if Congress passes new legislation to extend this authority. The proposed Build Back Better Legislation and separate proposed legislation from the State of Wisconsin legislature could affect what next school year looks like. What we do know is that we will do everything we can to provide information as soon as we get it.
If you think about what we have accomplished since March 2020, it’s pretty amazing. Thank you for all you have done and to continue to do to ensure kids are fed. We know it hasn’t been easy!
Other Updates and Information
Wisconsin Chili Lunch
We are excited to announce that registration for the 2022 Wisconsin Chili Lunch is now open!
Register Here and mark your calendars now for your February 24, 2022 Chili Lunch!
After you register, you will receive access to resources to help you plan a fun and successful Wisconsin Chili Lunch! Registrants will also receive a newsletter leading up to Chili Lunch Day highlighting resources, activities, tools, and more.
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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