SY 2013-2014 FFVP Application

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Application for the 2013-2014 school year will be available on March 25. Funding is available only for “elementary” students – those enrolled in grades K-8. The application will be mailed to the principal of each elementary school with an October 2012 free and reduced percentage of 50 percent or higher. The application will also be posted on our FFVP web page for all elementary schools to download.

The application process is competitive and based on percentage of free and reduced priced eligible students (with priority given to those 50 percent and above), school demographic information, creativity of proposal, planned partnerships with additional agencies, and ability to maintain the program at the school and use funding by the end of the 2013-2014 school year. How well the current year’s money was spent will also be a factor.

Read the following instructions carefully:

• Schools meeting the following criteria simply need to complete and mail in pages 3, 6-7. 
• Are currently participating in the FFVP with a 50 percent or higher free/reduced ratio AND
• Have retained a 50 percent or higher free/reduced rating in the elementary grades (K-8) for the current SY 12-13 as reported in October 2012.

(Send the other pages only if there are significant changes to what was submitted for SY 2012-2013.)

• Applications must be signed by the Authorized Representative and the School Food Service Director. Funds must flow through the school food service account.
• Schools not meeting the above criteria must complete the entire application.
• Applications may be faxed or mailed.
• Applications are due in our office no later than Friday April 19, 2013. Mailed applications must be postmarked as of April 19.

If you have questions or need assistance filling out the application, call Kaye in our office (888-338-3663).

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Food Allergy Resource

The FNS Office of Food Safety recently published a new food allergy resource, The Food Allergy Booklet: What School Employees Need to Know. This resource was developed in partnership with the National Education Association’s Health Information Network (NEA HIN) and reviewed by several federal agencies and non-governmental organizations. Copies of the booklet have been ordered for each school and will be distributed later this year. It is now available on the FNS website in both English and Spanish.

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In Need of Help with Your Menu/6 Cents Application?

Our staff of menu experts is ready and willing to help you! We can meet with you one-on-one and provide guidance on writing menus that meet the New Meal Pattern guidelines and assist you with your 6 cents application. Our experts are located across the state. To set-up an appointment, email Kaye Knudson  or phone 1-888-338-3663 or 328-2275.

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Complete On-Site Reviews by February 1

School sponsors with more than one foodservice site must conduct at least one on-site review at each location. The review must take place prior to February 1. The completed review form is kept in the district’s file and is not returned to the state office.
The purpose of on-site reviews is to verify that:

1. the claim is based on the approved counting system,
2. the implemented system yields the actual number of reimbursable free, reduced price and paid meals served, and
3. the site is using the correct master list of free and reduced price students.

If the review discloses problems, the sponsor must:

1. ensure that the site develops and implements a corrective action plan, and
2. conduct an on-site follow-up review within 45 calendar days of the initial review to determine that the corrective action has been completed.

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Prohibition on The Use of Temporary Approval

Temporary approval of an application is no longer permitted because of the year long duration of eligibility provision. Complete applications that are submitted with zero listed as the household income should be determined eligible for free meal benefits. If LEAs/schools are concerned with the authenticity of the information provided on an application, they may, on a case by case basis, verify the application for cause.

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Change In Household Circumstances

Because of year-long duration of eligibility, households are not required to report changes in income or household size or changes with regard to participation in a program that makes the children categorically eligible. However, families may voluntarily report changes. If a change is reported that will increase benefits, the LEA must put that change into effect. However, if the change will decrease benefits (free to reduced price) or terminate free or
reduced price benefits (free or reduced price status to paid status), the LEA must explain to the household that the change does not have to go into effect but that the household may request that the lower benefits go into effect.

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Seasonal Workers (including school employees)

The USDA Eligibility Manual was revised in August 2012 and has new section regarding seasonal employees. This excerpt is from page 34 of the manual which can be found on our website.

The LEA must determine the period of time any earnings are received for seasonal workers as well as the amounts and sources. Seasonal workers include those with annual employment contracts but who may choose to have their salaries paid over a shorter period of time. This includes school employees. The LEA must determine the full amount of income available to such workers contractually on an annual basis and convert all income sources
to annual amounts. This treats these employees in the same manner as employees who choose to have their salaries paid over the full year.

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Sixty Five School Districts Achieve 6 Cent Menu Certification on the New Meal Pattern! Congratulations to the Following Districts:

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Training

Child Nutrition staff will be offering New Meal Pattern/Computer Lab Training workshops in conjunction with three, North Dakota Regional Education associations (NDREA). If you are interested in attending the training nearest you, please register with the REA in that area. Training will focus on using the computer excel worksheets to complete New Meal Pattern Certification. School food service personnel are asked to bring a week of menus, production records and CN labels for products used for the week of menus. For questions contact Kaye Knudson, 701-328-2275.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013- 2:00 pm-5:00 pm
Amy Axtman - (701) 483-0990 Roughrider Education Services Program-RESP
Location: Roughrider Education Services Program-RESP
1173 2nd Ave W # 6, Dickinson (Southside of the T-Rex Mall)

Monday, January 21, 2013 – 12:30 pm-4:30 pm
Kathryn Pederson - (701) 857-4448 Mid-Dakota Education Council –MDEC
Location: Our Redeemer’s Christian School 16th Ave SE, Minot

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 – 2:00 pm-5:00 pm
David Richter - (701) 774-4263 Great Northwest Education Cooperative-GNWEC
Location Tioga School 321 N Benson St., Tioga

Wednesday, January 30, 2013- 2:00-4:30. New Meal Pattern/Computer Lab Training.
Register with Kaye Knudson- (701) 328-2275 Training will be held at the Grand Forks Public School’s Mark Sanford Education Center 2400 47th Avenue South, Grand Forks

IN ADDITITON to the New Meal Pattern Training, there will be a Healthier US School Challenge workshop.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:30-11:30 Healthier US School Challenge training (HUSSC).

Register with Kaye Knudson- (701) 328-2275 Training will be held at the Grand Forks Public School’s Mark Sanford Education Center 2400 47th Avenue South, Grand Forks

Pathways
There have been many changes in conjunction with the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. CN staff have been updating many of the Pathway courses and working on completing an on-line Sanitation Update training. The ten-hour Sanitation and Safety Course will be offered this spring in Bismarck, Minot and Fargo. Look for course dates and times to be posted on the Child Nutrition web-page. An e-mail will be sent out to LFSW as soon as the ten-hour Sanitation and Safety courses are posted. There is a free Sanitation and Safety on-line Training through the National Food Service Management Institute.

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USDA Lifts Bread and Meat Limits!

School foodservice programs are allowed to disregard the bread and meat maximums for the remainder of 2012/2013, however, meals must be in the appropriate calorie ranges. You are now able to add an extra bread/grain and/or peanut butter/meat/meat alternate to your meal if you are under the calorie limit. If you started serving a smaller bun or meat patty, you could go back to the larger size. It will still be very difficult to serve unlimited seconds and not exceed the calorie limit. The attached USDA memo has all the specifics. Thank you for your patience and hard work.

Please continue to submit menu documentation for the 6 cent certification process. We have 65 districts certified!

USDA is also planning on lifting the meat and grain limits on the breakfast meal pattern scheduled to start in school year 2013/2014.

Please call our office if you have any questions. The menu experts are Joe, Shayna, Kaye and Deb at 888-338-3663 or Lesli at 888-788-8901.

• FNS Guidance to School Food Authorities: Flexibility in the Meat/Meat Alternate and Grain Maximums for School Year 2012- 2013

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North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Kirsten Baesler, State Superintendent
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0440
701/328-2260

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