Designate a Reimbursable Meal at the Point of Service

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 had a requirement for schools to identify what is included in a reimbursable meal at the point of service (in the serving line). Schools will need signage to inform students if all items are included with the meal or if they must choose between different items.  Since the new meal pattern requires a fruit or vegetable to be on every tray and has a limit on breads/grains, this would be a good time to make signs showing what is considered a reimbursable meal. We are currently working on a small poster to use in the serving line to show the choices allowed. If you would like an electronic form of the poster to personalize for your serving line, please contact Deb Egeland at 1-888-338-3663 or 328-3718 or degeland@nd.gov or Stacie Morowski at 1-888-788-8901 or smorowski@nd.gov

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Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) in School Lunch Pricing

Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Public Law 111-296) requires schools participating in the National School Lunch Program ensure that schools are providing the same level of financial support for lunches served to paid students as they are to students who are  eligible for free lunches. This provision was effective July 1, 2011.

Schools currently charging, on average, less than $2.51 for a paid lunch are required to either gradually increase prices or provide additional financial support from the general fund. Schools cannot be required to increase prices more than 10 cents per year. To determine the new price, schools must calculate an adjusted average paid lunch price. The adjusted average price is the average price charged in 2011/2012 increased by two percentage points above the inflation rate and may be rounded down to the nearest 5 cents. For school year 2012/2013, the inflation factor is 2.18 percent. Combined with the required 2 percent increase, the total required increase is 4.18 percent. Schools must add on any calculated pricing increase from last year that was rounded down.

For the 2012/2013 school year, most schools with lunch prices below $2.51 would have to increase lunch prices by 5 or 10 cents.

Can a school increase its average paid lunch prices more than 5 cents and carry it forward to the next year? Yes, if a school chooses to increase paid lunch prices more than is required, the additional increase may be carried forward to the next school year(s) to meet the paid lunch equity requirements, (which could be 10 cents). Schools must keep sufficient records to document and carry forward the average price calculations. Last year, several schools went up 25 cents to cover required increases for a few years.

USDA has a calculator tool that figures out your required increase or the amount of support required from the general fund. The PLE Tool is available on our website under New & Hot, towards the bottom of the page.
http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/child/new/index.shtm

If you have any questions about calculating prices, please contact Deb Egeland at degeland@nd.gov or 1-888-338-3663 or 701-328-3718.

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Farm to School Update

Thank you to everyone who completed the Farm–to- School surveys. An official Farm-to-School Directory, where farmers and schools can find each other, is available on the FARRMS website www.farrms.org . Click on ND Farm-to-School to access the directory.

The Handbook is available on our website at:
http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/child/snp/nslp/farm_sch_handbook.pdf

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Local Wellness Policies

If you are thinking about revising your current Local Wellness Policy (LWP), this is a good resource to evaluate what the school district is currently pursuing. http://www.wellsat.org/

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requires school districts to evaluate their LWP and encourages public input when writing the policy. Several schools are putting the draft policy on their website and asking for public comments. If you are looking for ideas, check out some of the large district policies on these websites:  http://www.edutech.nodak.edu/schools/

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NDFoods System to Replace FNP

Program renewals, claims for reimbursement, including Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and USDA Food (Commodity) orders will look different after July 1, 2012.  A new web-based system, NDFoods, will be replacing our current FNP system.  The system has many new features to assist you in administering the child nutrition programs and USDA Foods.  All Authorized Representatives will need a ND Login ID to access the system.  A user’s manual and training webinars will be available in June. 

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Direct Certification

Over 15,000 children were directly certified eligible for free school meals this school year!  Thanks to all of you for using the Direct Certification system in STARS to make this possible.  The new Direct Certification match lists will be available this summer after the district rolls over their enrollment in STARS for the new school year.  Contact Linda Schloer or Carla Wardzinski if you have questions about Direct Certification.

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 Additional Performance Based Reimbursement Available October 2012

USDA has authorized an additional six cents reimbursement per school lunch for programs that have been certified as meeting all of the new school meal patterns requirements, which go into effect in school year 2012-2013.  Programs will be required to submit menu information for the certification.  CNFD will conduct on-site validation at 25% of the certified school food authorities.  The additional six cents is available starting October 1, 2012.  More information regarding the certifications will be provided in late May/early June.  Click here for more information about the new meal patterns   

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Non-Program (a la carte) Revenue and Expenses

Schools operating the NSLP need to keep track of money spent on food sold as al la carte. Most schools do not offer a la carte, however, with the New Meal Pattern limit on breads/grains and meat/meat alternate, many schools plan on selling extra entrees and bread. The extra items sold are considered a la carte items. The program needs to be able to prove that any a la carte items were sold for more than they cost. The purpose of the rule is to make sure a la carte items are not sold at artificially low prices at the expense of the reimbursable meal. Please be sure to have a system in place to track a la carte expenses and revenue if you are thinking about selling extra food items.

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Farm to School Grant

USDA released a Request for Applications (RFA) for a new farm to school grant program. The RFA is now posted on grants.gov and the USDA Farm to School website.
There will be two types of grants available.

1. Planning grants are intended primarily for K-12 school food authorities who participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program that are in the beginning phases of their farm to school efforts. 
2. Implementation grants are geared towards advancing existing farm to school initiatives.  K-12 school food authorities who participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program, along with State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, and non-profit entities working in partnership with school districts, may apply for implementation grants.

  The grants require at least a 25% funding match.  Applications are due June 15, 2012 and awards are expected to be made in October 2012.  Planning grants are expected to range from $20,000 - $45,000 and represent approximately 25 percent of the total awards. Implementation grants are expected to range from $65,000 - $100,000 and represent approximately 75 percent of the total awards. Given the HHFKA mandate that priority consideration be given to schools serving a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals, projects that serve school districts and schools that have high free and reduced price meal enrollment will receive extra points in evaluation scoring. 
Two webinars will be offered in order for applicants to learn more about this grant opportunity. More information regarding registration for these webinars will be sent via this listserv.

• Tuesday, May 15th, 1:00 EST Implementation grants
• Thursday, May 17th, 1:00 EST Planning grants

For more information, please visit the USDA Farm to School website and the Farm to School grant program RFA. 

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USDA Final Rule to Revise School Lunch and Breakfast Meal Patterns for Fall 2012

Milk Requirement: all flavored milk must be skim (fat-free), white milk must be skim or 1%

Trans fat: all items must be trans fat free except naturally occurring in beef and dairy.

Bread/Grain Min/Max Requirement for lunch starts in 2012/2013, for breakfast starts in 2013/2014

• At least half the grains need to be whole-grain rich defined as one of the following:
  • contains 8 grams of whole grains per serving
  • carries the FDA whole grain health claim
  • ingredient listing lists whole grain first

Lunch Requirements: The student must select at least a ½ cup of fruits or vegetables.

Fruit daily requirement increased to ½ cup for grades K-8, 1 cup for grades 9-12.
¼ cup dried fruit counts as a ½ cup serving. Juice can only be used for half of the fruit choices.

Vegetable daily requirement increased to ¾ cup for grades K-8 and 1 cup for grades 9-12.
 Additional vegetables can be from any subgroup. 1 cup leafy greens counts as a half cup serving.

No specifications for vegetables changed to ½ -3/4 cup weekly requirements for subgroups:

• Dark green vegetables (1/2 cup): broccoli, romaine, spinach, greens (mustard, kale, collard, turnip) dark green leaf lettuce, endive
• Dark Orange/Red Vegetables (3/4 cup): carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, winter squash (Hubbard, acorn, butternut), tomatoes, red peppers.
• Legumes (1/2 cup): black beans, garbanzos, kidney beans, pinto (chili) beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, soy beans, and lentils.
• Starchy vegetables (1/2 cup): white potatoes, green peas, corn, edamame, lima beans.
• Other vegetables (1/2 cup): green beans, cauliflower, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, celery, asparagus, zucchini, iceberg lettuce or extra dark green, red/orange or legumes.

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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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