School Nutrition Bulletin 2324-15

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
• Other Updates and Information

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

 

Action Required: USDA Farm to School (F2S) Census

The USDA F2S Census is the only national survey that examines local food purchasing, school gardens, and agricultural education efforts in schools. The results of the survey are crucial to informing future F2S program resources. Completion of the Census will enter your school food authority (SFA) into a raffle for fun prizes.

If you are not sure if your SFA has completed the census or if you need a direct link for your SFA, please email DPIF2S@dpi.wi.gov.

Results as of November 27, 2023, for the Midwest Region

WOOHOO Wisconsin! The goal is an 80% response rate and to beat all of the other Midwest states! We can do this!

 

Policy Memorandum: SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, SFSP 02-2024 Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meals Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program

USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce the release of a revised policy memorandum, SP 02-2024 Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meals Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. This memorandum provides updated guidance on crediting tofu and soy yogurt products in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and extends previous guidance on crediting tofu and soy yogurt products to the Summer Food Service Program, as well as to the infant meal pattern in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. This memorandum explains how to credit tofu and soy yogurt in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. This memorandum supersedes SP 53-2016, CACFP 21-2016 Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, August 8, 2016.
 

USDA Policy Memorandum SP 03-2024: Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule: Administrative Review and Food Service Management Company Review Cycles

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) final rule titled Child Nutrition Program Integrity established the option for State agencies (SAs) to implement a 5-year Administrative Review (AR) review cycle. (Wisconsin has already been operating a 5-year AR cycle under a USDA waiver).

Additionally, if a school food authority (SFA) has been designated as high-risk based on the initial AR, SAs must conduct a targeted follow-up review within 2 years. The memo outlines what is considered high risk.

The SA must submit a plan to the Midwest Regional Office that outlines the criteria that will be used to designate an SFA as high-risk, though the SA may include additional criteria in their plan.

The final rule allows SAs to conduct Food Service Management Company reviews on a 5-year cycle to align with the AR review cycle.
 

USDA Policy Memorandum SP 04-2024: Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule: State Agency Discretion for Repeat Meal Pattern Violations Fiscal Action

Also related to the Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule, USDA policy Memorandum SP 04-2024 gives State agencies (SAs) discretion for repeat meal pattern violations in the form of fiscal action. Required fiscal action will be assessed for missing food components and missing production records.

State agencies have discretion to take fiscal action for the following repeat violations:

• Food quantities
• Whole grain-rich foods
• Milk types
• Vegetable subgroups
• Dietary specifications (calories, saturated fat, and trans-fat)

This provision was effective on September 24, 2023, so it is applicable to administrative reviews that are conducted during the school year (SY) 2023-24.
 

Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs - Resource Page

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service created a resource page to support child nutrition program operators in serving traditional Indigenous foods. The page includes fact sheets, recipes, policy guidance, and more. The page will be updated periodically with new resources, which includes the updated TA 01-2024 Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs. The memo helps clarify how traditional Indigenous foods credit toward the meal pattern requirements of the child nutrition programs.
 

USDA Announces New Procurement Focused Partnership with the Urban School Food Alliance

USDA is partnering with the Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) to develop and implement trainings, tools, and resources to help school districts purchase high quality foods, while keeping costs low. USFA will organize an advisory group of school nutrition stakeholders to create an action plan that will address school food procurement challenges through targeted trainings and resources. For example, USFA will develop an interactive bid template that will help standardize procurement processes. USFA will begin sharing trainings and resources with school districts immediately, and the advisory group’s work will begin in 2024.
 

Applications for the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants Now Open! (Chef Ann Foundation and Boise State University)

Applications are now open for the School Food Systems Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, which are part of USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative.

These grants will transform the K-12 school food marketplace by increasing collaboration between school districts, food producers, suppliers, distributors, and/or community partners. Students can expect to see improvements in the quality of food on their plates, thanks to these new efforts.

FNS encourages all eligible applicants to consider applying for one or both grant opportunities:

• Supporting Community Agriculture and Local Education Systems (Project SCALES): Led by the Center for School and Community Partnerships at Boise State University, these projects will increase the procurement of locally sourced foods by developing innovative partnerships between schools and producers; growers; and processors. In addition, schools will be supported in the preparation of the foods and promoting them to students. Project SCALES was awarded $16.1 million and will provide two cohorts with sub-grants of up to $150,000 each (70 total). Applications for the second cohort will open in 2025.
• Partnerships for Local Agriculture & Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS): Led by Chef Ann Foundation, these projects will support regional efforts to expand scratch-cooked meal programs, increase equity, foster a resilient supply chain, and create scalable and sustainable change for school districts across the country. Chef Ann Foundation’s PLANTS was awarded $7.8 million and will provide sub-grants of $500,000-$600,000 to each of eight awardees. These grants will increase opportunities for regional small- and mid-scale producers, aggregators, and processors to become part of the K-12 school food market. Applications close on Jan. 22, 2024.

Applications for sub-grants managed by two other organizations – Full Plates Full Potential and Illinois Public Health Institute – will open in early 2024. Collectively, the four organizations were awarded $50 million by USDA to administer these sub-grants.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to check the USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives website to learn more about the School Food Systems Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants. For updates, sign up for the bi-monthly newsletter at the bottom right of the USDA Team Nutrition website.
 

Taking the Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool (PSTTT) to the Next Level!

The Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool (PSTTT) is a voluntary and free web-based tool designed for school nutrition professionals to track their annual required professional standards training hours. The PSTTT now includes an enhanced search function which allows users to easily find existing training titles when logging training in the PSTTT. Users can narrow down the search results by entering in training provider information. Trainings older than three years old will no longer show when searching on the Log Training page. Additionally, for recent Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) trainings, direct links to the ICN iLearn website have been added under the Training Details page.

• Did you miss Team Nutrition’s October webinar? Check out the recording of Level Up Your Professional Standards Tracking! The webinar demonstrated some of the newest time-saving features of the PSTTT, including logging Certifications (e.g. Food Handler's license) and enhanced search and filter capabilities for managing employee lists and logging training.
• To view previously recorded webinars about the PSTTT and to find other helpful resources on Professional Standards, visit the Professional Standards Resources webpage.

Do you have trainings you would like to see promoted on the Professional Standards Training Database? Send your training submissions along with feedback and suggestions to enhance the PSTTT to cnpntab@usda.gov.

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Updates from the DPI School Nutrition Team
 

Be Informed About Food Recalls and Food Borne Illness Outbreaks

Despite best efforts across the food industry to keep all food in the supply chain safe and free from contamination, foods are recalled every day due to concerns over the potential to cause foodborne illness. It is important for school food authorities (SFAs) to be aware of recalls in case they are affected and action is needed.

As the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is not directly involved in procurement of schools' commercial purchases, DPI may not always receive the details and information necessary to notify schools and/or monitor commercial product recalls. The best way for schools to obtain this information is to receive email notifications regarding food recalls directly from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Schools are strongly encouraged to sign up for free email updates through Recalls.gov, specifically the U.S. FDA Alerts. Schools may also keep track of recalls and outbreaks via the FoodSafety.gov website widget.

State or local public health agencies may also list state-specific recalls and outbreak alerts on their websites, such as Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services: Outbreaks in Wisconsin and the Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Food Recalls.

In the event a USDA Foods Product is Recalled, the USDA Foods team at DPI will follow specific procedures for handling the recall and notifying SFAs.

SFAs may also receive information regarding recalls or other food safety alerts from their vendors, distributors, or sales representatives. Be sure to closely review any notices from your suppliers and take appropriate action when necessary. Thank you for taking steps to be informed about food recalls.
 

DPI In-person Strategic Planning Community Engagement Events

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is currently engaged in the creation of a Five-year Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan aims to Align the Work of DPI and the needs of all learners in our schools and libraries. The strategic planning process features three phases, culminating in a final strategic plan being released in fall 2024. The development of the strategic plan requires inclusive Opportunities to Engage, Listen and Co-create.

Take the DPI Strategic Planning Survey!
Your input is important and crucial to shaping our initiatives for schools and libraries. This survey is anonymous. Names and email addresses will not be collected.

Attend a Strategic Planning Community Engagement Session
The DPI is also hosting a series of Strategic Planning Community Engagement Sessions throughout the state. During each session, DPI staff will engage in facilitated conversations to gather additional perspectives within various communities.

Space is limited! If you're interested in attending a community engagement session, please register for the option below nearest to you (or whichever one works best in your schedule if you're willing to travel).

Please know we will use the information from the registration form to anticipate attendance, make accommodations, and to follow up after the event if there is an email provided on the form. The DPI will not use personal identification or personal attributions in our notes and analysis.

Upcoming Sessions:

Green Bay
Baird Elementary - 539 Lavern Dr., Green Bay, WI
December 12, 2023
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Crivitz
Crivitz School District - 400 South Ave, Crivitz, WI
December 13, 2023
5:00 - 6:30 pm

Virtual Session
A link to the session will be emailed to you closer to the date of the event.
December 18, 2023
9 - 10:30 am

Oshkosh
TBD
January 8, 2024
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Kenosha
Kenosha Unified School District (ESC Board Room) - 3500 52nd St., Kenosha, WI
January 11, 2024
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Virtual Session
A link to the session will be emailed to you closer to the date of the event.
January 31, 2024
5:30 - 7:00 pm
 

Around the World in 80 Trays- New Recipes!

Join the School Nutrition Team for the Around the World in 80 Trays event, encouraging schools to prepare a globally inspired dish(es) during the week of January 15-19, 2024! Visit the Around the World in 80 Trays webpage for recipes. NEW this year are recipes that feature Somali, Ukrainian, Japanese and German cuisines! Remember to Take the Pledge to help us reach our goal of 80 participating schools and districts.

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Other Updates and Information
 

New Feature in iLearn!

You asked and we listened. The complete iLearn course catalog is now available for RETRAINING!

• You no longer need to contact our helpdesk to renew a course.
• Retraining allows users to quickly and easily repeat courses.
• You can earn an updated completion certificate as often as needed.

For more information about retraining courses & how-to information, visit the Retraining webpage.
 

Schools Apply Now! Climate Resilient Schools Program

The EPA is now accepting Letters of Interest to the 2024 Climate Resilient Schools Program. During this program, EPA and a contractor will provide technical assistance to up to four school districts to support climate-resilient school buildings.

Whether your community is impacted by hurricanes, floods, or other climate risks, Climate Resilient Schools will help school districts gather feedback, identify needs and gaps, and create a plan to target and prioritize school infrastructure upgrades – all to help schools stay open safely – or re-open quickly and safely – despite increasing climate events.

How to Apply
School districts, state and local governments, and Tribes are welcome to apply. See the Request for Letters of Interest for details about the program and how to submit a letter.

Applications are due January 19, 2024.

EPA will evaluate letters based on the criteria in the request and choose up to four school districts in early 2024. The pilot will last for approximately one calendar year, culminating in a personalized action plan.

Please note – this program is not a grant, and funding will not be given directly to school districts or state/local/Tribal governments.

Questions can be directed to EPAChildren@epa.gov.

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Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jill K. Underly, PhD, State Superintendent
125 S Webster Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-3390 • (800) 441-4563