March 31, 2009 -- Today the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee held a hearing focusing on the nutritional value of foods and beverages sold in schools outside of the federal school meal programs. The School Nutrition Association commends Committee Chairman Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Member Chambliss (R-GA) on holding the hearing and reiterates the need for Congress to give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to set national nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools.
Since 1983 when a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rule against USDA and then-Secretary John R. Block in the case of the National Soft Drink Association v. Block, the Department of Agriculture has not had the authority to set federal nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of the cafeteria during the lunch period. In order to establish consistent nutrition education messages in the school food environment and promote healthy eating habits both in school and outside of school, SNA calls on Congress to do the following:
SNA supports legislation that would accomplish these goals including HR 1324, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 sponsored by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) and 115 co-sponsors. SNA looks forward to working with the Senate Agriculture Committee on this issue during the child nutrition reauthorization process.
Senate Agriculture Committee Live Webcast starting at 9:30 AM March 31, 2009
SNA 2009 Legislative Issue Paper
National School Nutrition Standards Background
HR 1324 Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act
March 30, 2009 -- Action Alert: Call your Members of Congress this week about the 2010 budget and child nutrition funding.
The House and Senate are expected to act early this week on the 2010 budget resolution. It is important that a strong message be included in the budget that funding for school nutrition programs is key during this child nutrition reauthorization year. Please take the following steps to make sure your elected officials in Congress know how you feel about funding for child nutrition:
1. Call your Representative and Senators immediately (toll free 866-544-7573.) Ask the operator to connect you to your Representative or Senators. If you need to look up who represents you in Congress go to this link and enter your zip code: here.
2. When you are on the phone with the offices of your members of Congress, urge them to support significant added investments in child nutrition programs in the fiscal year 2010 budget they will be voting on this week. Simply state that you would like them "to support added investments in child nutrition programs in the fiscal year 2010 budget. Thank you for your support."
3. Make sure you talk to the offices of all three of your members of Congress (one Representative and two Senators.)
Thank you for taking action to support strong school nutrition programs.
Background on the budget process and child nutrition reauthorization
March 27, 2009 -- The Senate and House Budget Committees each passed their respective budget resolutions this week, providing blueprints for how the federal budget should be spent for the upcoming 2010 fiscal year. The budget resolution must be passed by the full House of Representative and U.S. Senate before becoming adopted. Funding for the child nutrition reauthorization process is mentioned in both the House and Senate Budget resolutions.
A budget resolution is an internal congressional blueprint for future action in the coming fiscal year. It does not go to the president for signature and is not "law" per se. While there is never any ‘real’ money in a resolution, it does help frame the priorities of the Congress.
The House Resolution included a deficit neutral reserve fund for child nutrition programs. Section 307 of the budget resolution states:
The chairman of the Committee on the Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution for any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report that reauthorizes, expands, or improves child nutrition programs by the amounts provided in such measure if such measure would not increase the deficit or decrease the surplus for either time period provided in clause 10 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Late on March 26, 2009, the Senate Budget Committee passed their budget resolution on a party line vote preserving the core priorities of President Obama's budget plan, according to Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND.) With regard to child nutrition the resolution included a reserve fund for deficit-neutral legislation that would reauthorize child nutrition programs and/or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (the WIC program.) Press reports indicate that the budget resolution also would take $350 million from crop insurance and put it toward child nutrition and deficit reduction over five years.
SNA members can contact their members of Congress over the next week by sending an action alert email emphasizing the need for funding for in the amount of $20 billion over five years for the federal child nutrition programs. This funding would ensure healthy school meals for children and provide access to school meals for children in need.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has posted the annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines, used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk. The guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.
The guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The new guidelines are effective from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. The Department’s guidelines for free meals and milk and reduced price meals were obtained by multiplying the year 2009 Federal income poverty guidelines by 1.30 and 1.85, respectively, and by rounding the result upward to the next whole dollar. The numbers reflected in the announcement for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the territories represent an increase of 4% over last year’s level for a family of the same size. Under the new guidelines a family of four qualifying for free meals must make $28,665 or less, while a family of four qualifying for reduced price meals must make less than $40,793.
2009-2010 Income Eligibility Guidelines from the Federal Register March 27, 2009
March 27, 2009 -- On March 26, 2009, the House Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing entitled, "To Review the State of Obesity in the United States." Testimony and discussion focused broadly on obesity in America however several witnesses did mention the importance of school-based child programs in preventing overweight and obesity in children.
Chairman Baca (D-CA) and Ranking Member Fortenberry (R-NE) presided over the hearing, and were joined by Representatives Cuellar (D-TX), Dahlkemper, RD (D-PA), Kagan (D-WI), Lummis (R-WY), Schrader (D-OR), and Schmidt (R-OH). Witnesses included the following:
Chairman Baca opened the hearing declaring that obesity is a disease affecting all segments of the population. He stated that more needs to be done to study the effects of obesity on certain groups, including tribal and native communities and other under-privileged sectors. Chairman Baca also stated the consequences of this disease need to be examined and understood, as it impacts our entire society, including families, women, children, businesses, healthcare, and American culture.
Several of the witnesses testified on the school nutrition programs including Ms. Wolf who mentioned that her family growing up relied on free school meals and the food stamp program. Mr. Yadrick of the American Dietetic Association outlined several of ADA's recommendations for the upcoming child nutrition reauthorization process:
Ms. Mazyck of the National Association of School Nurses also spoke to the value of school nutrition programs:
Critical to helping students break the cycle and develop good decision-making skills related to nutrition, is the modeling which occurs in the school meals program. Currently, the National School Lunch Program is serving nutritious meals to more than 28 [31] million children and the School Breakfast Program is reaching more than 8 [10] million children daily. The meals eaten at school are meals that they can count on. In contrast to the students who pay full price for lunches, students on assistance are generally so hungry that their plates are clean when they finish. We have to ask ourselves, what would our schools be like if these children did not receive these vitally important meals? In addition, if the Department of Agriculture nutrition standards for school foods sold outside of meals would be updated, our Nation’s schools (not just the meals program) could become a place where children’s nutritional health is taken seriously.
See Related Links to read all the witnesses' testimony.
Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry—Public Hearing
March 26, 2009 -- On March 20, 2009, USDA released a memo discussing several common questions from state agency and school nutrition program officials regarding the school food service equipment grants included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Some of the questions addressed in the memo include:
Please see Related Links for copy of this memo. SNA has posted a variety of resources on school food service equipment, including publications on equipment purchasing and facility designs, the USDA equipment guide, and grant writing tips. Visit the Stimulus School Food Equipment Grants page for more details.
March 26, 2009 -- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced that approximately 200 million pounds of nonfat dry milk will be transferred from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to USDA's Food and Nutrition Service for use in domestic feeding programs. The goal is to help support both low-income families struggling to put nutritious food on their tables and dairy farmers who have been challenged by high feed costs and low dairy prices. USDA has a long history of delivering nutritional assistance through domestic and international feeding programs and administers 15 domestic nutrition programs that touch the lives of one in every five people in America each day.
The nonfat dry milk (NDM) was acquired by the CCC under the Dairy Product Price Support Program. Under this program, CCC purchases NDM, butter and cheddar cheese at statutorily mandated prices. These purchases support the prices of NDM, butter, and cheese and the price farmers receive for milk. USDA will make available about 200 million pounds of NDM for further processing or barter. The acquired products are expected to include items such as instantized NDM, ultra high temperature milk, cheese, and soups for domestic feeding programs. This includes:
In addition to the 200 million pounds above, USDA also plans to make NDM available as follows:
Products should be moving through the supply chain starting in the spring and continuing through 2009.
For more information, please visit the Dairy Product Price Support Program.
Are you thinking of attending SNA’s 2009 Annual National Conference (ANC), but aren’t sure if you’ll get the support both professionally and financially? We know you know how beneficial attending ANC is to your career, your program and your students, but sometimes your employer may not. Build a strong case for attending by sharing these top reasons.
10. ANC brings everything together at one time, in one place; you get the maximum information in the shortest amount of time.
9. With more than 60 sessions and tracks that reflect the top issues facing the school nutrition profession, you are sure to find the right ones for your specific needs. Take away enhanced skills you can immediately apply in the workplace.
8. You will attend sessions that will help you keep your operation in the black during these tough times. The Financial Management track will feature such sessions as “Idiot’s Guide to Financial Survival,” “Overstaffed or Understaffed? Measuring School and District Performance,” “Make Your Program Solvent Through P&L Tracking” and “Data-Based Decision Making,” just to name a few.
7. Human resources, while often overshadowed by profits, can also have a major impact on your bottom line. Sessions such as “Conflict Management,” “The ABCs of Team Building” and “Empower Your Managers With Staff Training” will provide insights on solving your biggest HR hurdles.
6. Earn while you learn. You will earn 23 continuing education credits (CEUs) toward certification renewal by attending this year’s conference. (You can even more if you attend one of the five scheduled pre-conference sessions.)
5. The Exhibit Hall will feature nearly 300 companies, exposing you to latest and greatest products, services and equipment available to the school nutrition market. Collect information and talk one-on-one with industry representatives to get answers to your questions so that you can make better purchasing decisions.
4. Network! Network! Network! This is your once-a-year opportunity to make new friends and renew old acquaintances, share challenges and successes, converse about common goals, swap cost-cutting tips and build lasting relationships with school nutrition professionals from across the country.
3. Be inspired. The line up of keynote speakers will motivate you and help you to reenergize your career.
2. Share the wealth with your team. When you return to your district you’ll be able to host an information-sharing session, where you can pass along the new-found information and tools you acquired during the conference.
1. Finding solutions to today's challenging economy requires out-of-the box thinking. ANC creates the proper environment to work through your problems and issues with others to come up with winning ideas.
Still need a reason to make your way to Las Vegas this summer? Believe it or not, because of the sluggish economy, Las Vegas hotel stays are the cheapest they've been in many years! To make ANC attendance more affordable, SNA has been working with the official conference hotels to reduce costs. New rates are $119 per night for Mandalay Bay, $149 per night for THEhotel, and $59 per night for the Luxor. To get even more bang for your buck…register by the Early Bird Deadline of April 3rd and you’ll save big on your registration fee!
There is no way to list all the take-a-ways you’ll get by attending ANC, but you’re guaranteed to walk away a winner. Register today! For more information about this year’s conference or to register, see the Related Links.
ANC 2009
March 25, 2009 -- While meals provided through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program must meet federal nutrition requirements; food and beverages sold on school campus outside of these programs through vending machines, snack bars, a la carte, school stores and fundraisers, do not have to follow federal nutrition standards based on current science. On March 31, 2009, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee chaired by Senator Harkin (D-Iowa) will hold a hearing addressing this issue titled "Beyond Federal School Meal Programs: Reforming Nutrition for Kids in Schools." The hearing will begin at 9:30 AM in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building.
The School Nutrition Association strongly supports consistent federal nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of the federal school meal programs. The Association's 2009 Legislative Issue Paper calls on Congress to "grant the Secretary of Agriculture the statutory authority to regulate the sale of all foods and beverages on the school campus, consistent with the most recent edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans." Students receive mixed messages when certain foods are sold outside the cafeteria and others are sold within the cafeteria. One nutrition standard for the entire school campus reinforces nutrition education provided in the classroom and ensures that all choices available at school are healthful ones.
Wittnesses scheduled to appear at the hearing include:
Dr. Pat Cooper President Early Childhood and Family Learning Foundation, New Orleans, LA
Ms. Nancy Huehnergarth Director New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance, Chappaqua, NY
Mr. Byron Garrett Chief Executive Officer National Parent Teacher Association, Chicago, IL
Mr. Reginald Felton Federal Relations Director National School Boards Association. Alexandria, VA
Ms. Karen Ehrens Public Policy Chair North Dakota Dietetic Association, Bismarck, ND
Ms. Miriam Erickson Brown Chief Executive Officer Anderson Erickson Dairy Company, Des Moines, IA
Mr. Hank Izzo Vice-President Research and Development Mars Snackfood US, Hackettstown, NJ
Ms. Susan Neely Chief Executive Office American Beverage Association, Washington, DC
Senate Agriculutre, Nutrition and Forestry Committee access to hearing webcast on March 31, 2009
SNA Legislative Issue Paper
SNA National Nutrition Standards
March 24, 2009 -- The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) in partnership with Duke Manufacturing will be offering a FREE webinar on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, entitled “Equipment Solutions: Plug in to Profitability”. School nutrition program directors/supervisors will have the opportunity to learn about the right choice of school foodservice equipment can influence participation and increase profitability. Moderator Jim Klimt will discuss and share best for planning your next foodservice equipment purchase, whether you’re replacing old equipment, renovating your current facility, or outfitting a brand-new facility, and 3 SNA member panelists will share their experiences with increasing participation and profitability as a result of the addition of new foodservice equipment.
Title: Equipment Solutions: Plug in to ProfitabilityDate: Wednesday, April 15, 2009Time: 2:30 PM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) Duration: 75 minutes (approximately)
For more information on this webinar, including where and how to register, please click here or visit www.schoolnutrition.org/equipment. SNA members may earn 1 continuing education unit (CEU) for participating in the webinar. Instructions on how to obtain your CEU can be found by clicking on the URL above.
This webinar is the fifth in SNF’s “Webinar Wednesday” series and will be offered at no charge. Stay tuned to www.schoolnutrition.org/webinars for information on upcoming Wednesday Webinars throughout 2009.
March 19, 2009 -- Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Representatives Kind (D-Wisconsin), Wamp (D – Tennessee) and Inslee (D-Washington) introduced legislation this week that would promote more physical activity in schools across the country. If enacted, The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids (FIT) Kids Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require that all schools, districts and states include the quantity and quality of PE in the “report cards” currently sent to parents. It would also ensure that children get the support they need to be physically active and make healthy food choices.
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), and U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Zach Wamp (R-TN), and Jay Inslee (D-WA) formally reintroduced the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (Fit Kids Act) at an event on Capitol Hill today joined by NFL players from the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, obesity expert Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Jamie Dukes of NFL Network and DC-area students.
The FIT Kids Act would engage parents and the public by requiring all schools, districts and states to report on students’ physical activity, including the amount of time spent in required physical education in relation to the recommended national standard. The Act would further ensure appropriate professional development for health and physical education teachers. And it would fund research to examine the link between children’s health and their academic achievement, and recommend effective ways to combat childhood obesity and improve healthy living and physical activity.
In the 110th Congress, the bill was first introduced by Senator Harkin and Representatives Kind and Wamp in 2007. By the end of 2008, with considerable support for the bill, there were 80 sponsors on the House side and 15 in the Senate. Many of the cosponsors are on the committees of jurisdiction for this legislation. In July 2008, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on physical education and children’s health at which both Rep. Kind and Wamp both testified in support of the FIT Kids Act, as well as an American Heart Association representative and other witnesses. It is anticipated this support will be built on in the 111th Congress. Both physical activity and good nutrition are critical to developing healthy habits for children.
Sen. Harkin, Reps. Kind, Wamp, Inslee Reintroduce FIT Kids Act, Calling for More P.E. in Schools
March 18, 2009 -- With Global Child Nutrition Month coming up in April, SNA member of over 25 years Patricia Mergens is making headlines by organizing a festival in her neighborhood of St. Paul, Minn. to raise over $10,000 for the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF.) Mergens has worked 28 years as an employee of St. Paul Schools Nutrition Services where she is currently a coordinator in their central facility.
The idea of organizing A World of Hope Festival, to be held in the West 7th neighborhood of St. Paul, came to Mergens after learning about GCNF at a Minnesota SNA conference. According to an article in the Community Reporter of St. Paul, “After hearing two minutes of the GCNF presentation, I realized that I can’t wait. Every five seconds a child dies of a hunger related disease,” said Mergens.
The community event she is planning has a goal of raising $10,000 to further the work of GCNF and will be held Saturday, March 28, noon to 5 p.m. at The Salvation Army (401 West 7th.) The Festival will feature a taco salad luncheon, silent auction, cakewalk and children’s games with small prizes.
The Community Report article on the Festival states that about 40 businesses in the West 7th community have generously provided donations, donated services and goods. “So few people have said no. People’s generosity and enthusiasm have overwhelmed me.” She went on to say that many people have given her support, listened to her story, and advised and encouraged her. In fact, Mergens’ mother has joined in support, and has been placing follow-up phone calls to businesses.
The Report continues: “After nearly three decades of feeding children through school nutrition services in St. Paul, Mergens understands the positive impact of implementing sustainable school feeding programs, much like school meal programs in the U.S., in disadvantaged areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. “In the course of my career, when eating with children, they tell me things. All kids need a safe person to tell their stories to. It helps to build self-esteem. It has been gratifying to be a receptor of their stories and to be able to help children get the help they need,” she said.”
The Global Child Nutrition Foundation is a USA based, 501 (c) (3) international foundation dedicated to helping countries develop and operate sustainable school feeding programs. Established in 2006 as the international arm of the School Nutrition Association (SNA), GCNF provides technical assistance to support the development of community-based school feeding programs that respond to nutritional needs of children, local cultures and community values.
Global Child Nutrition Month is observed in April and highlights the need for sustainable solutions to childhood hunger internationally through the development of coordinated school feeding programs. You can set your own fundraising goal for GCNF through the Change Our World website.
To support Pat Mergens and A World of Hope Festival, readers can donate online through Highgrove Community Federal Credit Union at www.highgrove.org and, of course, attend A World of Hope Festival.
March 17, 2009 -- With tightened budgets and a continued need for nutrition education, taking advantage of free programs offered by SNA’s industry partners can help school nutrition professionals increase participation - and the bottom line. The School Nutrition Association, the got milk? Milk Mustache Campaign (MilkPEP), and the National Dairy Council encourage school nutrition professionals to provide their unique perspectives by completing the annual survey on school milk.
By sharing valuable information on challenges, experiences and expectations related to your school milk program, the milk industry can respond by bringing effective programs that support nutrition, foodservice and wellness goals. Your guidance will ensure that you continue to receive programs that support these goals and make your hard work a little bit easier.
For completing the survey, SNA members will be eligible to win a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate (1 out of every 20 surveys will win.) And as an added incentive for completing the survey online, 2 winners will be chosen to receive a stereo system ($200 value). If you would like to give a few minutes of your time, please visit www.primeconsulting.biz/schoolsurvey to fill out the survey by Friday, April 3.
Check the SNA website later this Spring for highlights of the survey results. The ultimate goal is for the milk industry to provide improved milk programs for the 2009-2010 school year.
School Milk Survey
March 16, 2009 -- The School Nutrition Association is pleased to announce that room rates for conference hotels at the Annual National Conference (ANC) this June 29, 2009 through July 2, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nev. have been reduced in price. New rates for the Mandalay Bay hotel are $119 per night, $149 per night for The Hotel, while the rate at the Luxor hotel has been lowered to $59 per night.
Because budgets are tight for everyone and training for school nutrition professionals of all levels is more important that ever right now, SNA has been working with the official conference hotels to reduce costs for SNA members and all individuals planning to attend ANC.
ANC 2009 Hotels
March 16, 2009 -- Meeting the needs of your student customers is important, but take care not to overlook your own goals, both career-related and personal.
The March 2009 issue offers you steps and motivation to approach and accomplish your dreams. In “Vision Quest,” readers share their own inspiring stories about planning and achieving their goals. Learn about whether a life coach, a credentialed professional trained to help clients find new inspiration and a fresh perspective, might be the right option for you in “Coach in a Clutch.”
Sometimes our desire for personal development leaves us faced with some difficult situations. “When Love Is Not Enough” details one woman’s experiences in an abusive marriage and what led her to finally end the relationship. The article also includes tips for recognizing whether you are in an abusive relationship and information for how to get help.
This issue also sheds light on the work of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) to draw attention to the 300 million children around the world who go to bed hungry each night. Learn about how you can support the cause and ways to share information about April’s Global Child Nutrition Month with your school community.
Our life path and goals may be different, yet we can all benefit from sound advice and learn from the experiences of those around us. The articles in this issue provide the reflection and motivation to allow you to identify and work toward your goals. Remember, it’s never too late to start a new dream!
School Nutrition – March 2009
March 13, 2009 -- The Agriculture Subcommittee of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee held a hearing on March 12, 2009, examining the domestic nutrition programs. In her opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) stated “So we begin today, with a hearing on public health, the first in a series on nutrition, where I hope we can look at fighting hunger, making nutritious food accessible, and exploring the federal government’s responsibility. For decades our nation’s nutrition programs under the Department of Agriculture have been a big part of our social safety net -- providing children and low-income families with access to quality food.”
Witnesses included:
In his testimony, Acting Deputy Under Secretary of FNS O’Connor discussed the role of the federal school-based child nutrition programs in addressing obesity:
"The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) gives children the nutrition they need to develop and grow. Compared to nonparticipants, NSLP participants are more likely to consume vegetables, fruit or 100 percent juice and milk, and less likely to consume beverages other than milk or 100 percent fruit juice at lunch and through the day. In addition to providing healthful food, the presence of a School Breakfast Program means that low-income students are more likely to start their school day with a substantial breakfast, ready to learn."
He continued:
"While some have raised concerns about the role of nutrition assistance in causing weight gain, USDA is not aware of any convincing evidence that school meals or other Federal nutrition assistance programs cause obesity and overweight; the evidence that does exist is mixed. While some studies have shown an association between participation in certain programs and higher weight for some groups of participants, others have found no such association, or even less overweight among program participants, and none have shown a causal relationship."
"Indeed, when one looks at both the food choices and the nutrition status of program participants and other consumers, the similarities are more striking than the differences. Our most recent analysis of nutrition monitoring data, comparing the diets of participants in SNAP, WIC, and the school meals programs with higher income consumers show that the diets of all groups fall far short of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. All groups had very low intakes of whole grains, dark green and orange vegetables, and legumes, and high intakes of fat, saturated fat and added sugars. Similarly, consumer expenditure data suggest that SNAP participants tend to buy the same categories of foods as other consumers; differences are minor even though families at the high end of the income distribution spend over twice as much on food at home as those at the low end."
The Deputy Under Secretary also discussed the role of commodities in school meal programs:
"More generally, FNS has launched an aggressive initiative to improve the nutritional quality of our commodity programs. Schools participating in NSLP today have access to the widest choice of healthful USDA foods in history. Over the past two decades, we have worked to reduce the levels of fat, sodium, and sugar. We now offer schools more than 180 choices of quality products, including more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low fat foods. Consider just a few examples:
Statement by Chair DeLauro
Testimony by Deputy Under Secretary O’Connor
Media coverage of hearing
March 12, 2009 -- Are you an industry representative new to the multi-billion-dollar school nutrition market? Confused by the intricacies of this complex marketplace? Or perhaps you’ve been involved in the market for many years but you’re looking for a quick way to get up to speed on the latest school meal guidelines and regulations? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, than you can’t afford to miss SNA’s Spring Industry Boot Camp, taking place May 7-8, 2009, at the Sheraton Suites in Alexandria, Va. Come shape up your school nutrition knowledge and take your company’s success to the next level.
During this one and a half day meeting, you will glean pertinent information from discussions about school meal nutrition guidelines and regulations, and school nutrition market trends, and you also will gain a better understanding of child nutrition legislative and regulatory fundamentals, including the structure of statutes and regulations governing school foodservice, practical and legal aspects of school procurement, and current insider information on recent legislative events.
Throughout the seminar, you will have the opportunity to personally meet with school nutrition directors from the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. This panel of directors will discuss their school feeding programs as they relate to food costs, purchasing, marketing and building better relationships with clients. The seminar will feature a guided tour of the school nutrition facilities at nearby T.C. Williams High School.
To secure your seat at the Spring Boot Camp, see the Related Links to download a Registration Form. If you have any questions, please contact SNA Industry Relations Coordinator Nate Bawden at (800) 877-8822, ext. 173, or nbawden@schoolnutrition.org.
Spring Industry Boot Camp
March 11, 2009 – This week, USDA released new guidance on implementation of the onetime American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriation of $100,000,000 for equipment assistance to school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Funds will be allocated to each state based on states’ total school meals administrative expense allocation for Fiscal Year 2009. Local SFAs will then be able to competitively apply to their State.
The ARRA specifically states that preference will be given to SFAs for equipment for schools in which at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals, however any SFA participating in the NSLP is eligible to submit an application to receive a NSLP equipment assistance grant.
Equipment requests may include new equipment, renovation of equipment, or replacement of equipment. USDA encourages the prompt purchase of equipment, as opposed to equipment purchases that may take many months or years to become effective. In order to make the most effective use of the NSLP equipment assistance grant funds, when developing the application process, State agencies are encouraged to incorporate one or more of the following four focus areas:
USDA strongly encourages State agencies to complete the entire award process, including solicitation and designation of award, by June 8, 2009. It is also recommended that State agencies encourage SFAs to complete their procurement and expenditure activities within three (3) months of grant award.
See related links for the full memo and check back to www.schoolnutrition.org for additional resources on equipment procurement coming soon.
2009 Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities
March 11, 2009 -- The Texas Department of Agriculture has created a public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness of school breakfast programs. The PSA was released last week, during National School Breakfast Week. It is airing on local television stations through out Texas.
The 30 second advertisement features Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and several of school breakfast superheroes, encouraging all students to “Power Up with School Breakfast.” Students who eat a healthy school breakfast everyday are better behaved and perform better academically than students who do not eat a school breakfast. To view the PSA, please click on the link below.
"Power Up With School Breakfast" Texas Department of Agriculture PSA
March 11, 2009 -- Whether you’re a director or manager, cook or server, SNA understands that each and every member of your school nutrition team plays a part in making your operation more profitable and productive. That's why you and your colleagues can't afford to miss this year’s Annual National Conference in Las Vegas, June 29-July 2, 2009. This premier educational and networking event was designed to meet the needs of school nutrition professionals at every level by providing invaluable tools and training. You will walk away with hundreds of practical ideas, solutions and strategies to help you rise to the challenges of these tough economic times.
To better provide you with winning solutions for your operation, this year SNA is making it even easier for you to bring the entire team. SNA members receive special savings when more than one person in the same membership category registers from their school district. The more people you encourage to come to the conference, the more you can save! To learn more about these special savings, please see the Related Links. And, don’t forget…by registering before the April 3rd Early Bird deadline, you can save even more.
Of course, if you still need a reason to make your way to Las Vegas for ANC 2009, here are just a few reasons why, year after year, school nutrition professionals keep coming back.
At ANC, what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas. After four learning-packed days, you will take home the best thinking in school nutrition! To learn more about ANC 2009 or to register, see the Related Links.
March 10, 2009 - Each year, National School Breakfast Week, brings national attention to the benefits of the School Breakfast Program. In addition to extensive media coverage, NSBW 2009 marked the launch of two exciting initiatives by SNA partners, USDA and Action for Healthy Kids.
USDA released it’s newly redesigned school breakfast toolkit, Expanding Your School Breakfast Program, as an online resource. The school breakfast toolkit website provides information to help promote and expand School Breakfast Programs as a way of supporting positive outcomes for children. Many of the materials included on this site are designed to be customized, including downloadable PowerPoint files, information sheets, letters, and marketing materials which can be modified to suit your specific needs. A school breakfast webinar is also available at the website. Click here to access the toolkit and resources.
Action for Healthy Kids, has announced a new grant program to promote the goal of increasing the number of children eating breakfast. Action for Healthy Kids, with generous support from Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund, is offering grants to schools that currently participate in the School Breakfast Program with greater than 50 percent eligibility for free and reduced-price meals. The goal is to increase their average daily student participation by 25 percent.
School buildings in every state meeting minimum grant requirements are eligible; however, priority will be given to schools in states with the lowest average daily student participation in school breakfast as a percentage of school lunch participation, as reported in the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) 2007-2008 School Breakfast Scorecard. The grants are intended to fund implementation of alternative breakfast programs, innovative marketing and promotions, and/or enhancement of the school breakfast experience through educational enrichment activities. Awards will range between $500 and $2,000.
Click here to download a PDF of the grant application. Complete proposals are due to Action for Healthy Kids by Friday, April 10, 2009. More information can be found at www.actionforhealthykids.org or by contacting Sarah Titzer, Director of Team Programs at (317) 884-0321 or Sarah@ActionForHealthyKids.org.
Expanding you School Breakfast Program: USDA School Breakfast Toolkit
When is National Book Month? What is Cinco de Mayo all about? How can you celebrate National Park Week? Turn to the resources featured in SNA’s annual online Promotional Calendar, a free member service produced by the editorial staff of School Nutrition. It’s a great resource for school nutrition professionals seeking suggestions for fun school or district promotions they can coordinate throughout the year. This year’s Promotional Calendar contains monthly, weekly and daily celebrations for the school year beginning August 2009. It’s brimming with promotional ideas—for decorations, costumes and activities—not to mention numerous fun facts! In addition, you will find website links, as available, to sponsoring or related organizations. Many of these feature additional background information and promotional ideas.
To access the Promotional Calendar, please see Related Links. You will need your username and password.
March 9, 2009 -- Students across the country were joined this week by a several special superheroes encouraging children to “power up” by eating a nutritious school breakfast each day. In cities and towns nationwide, celebrations were held with the school breakfast superheroes to promote healthy eating habits. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution recognizing the week, calling the programs important for families struggling during the recession. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and several states also issued statements celebrating the week.
National School Breakfast Week 2009 received extensive media coverage. Below are some highlights from the week:
Clink the links below to view some of the news coverage from National School Breakfast Week.
Auburn students dress as superheroes to learn nutrition – Opelika-Auburn News
National School Breakfast Week Showcases NFL Hometown Hero as Example – Beaumont, Washington
Eat your breakfast, Bears QB tells students – Des Moines Register
Breakfast takes center – Suffolk Herald News
Senate passes measure recognizing National School Breakfast Week
USDA Celebrates School Breakfast Week
Tennessee Governor Spotlights Value of School Breakfast Program
Powering Up for Breakfast – The Herald Bulletin
Eating their way to 1 million Cheerios – The Herald-Mail
Breakfast is on the house for Mid-Del – The Sun
March 9, 2009 -- The School Nutrition Association's Vote for School Lunch Campaign 2008 – Presidential Edition was one of twenty one associations recognized with an Award of Excellence in the first round of judging for the 2009 Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program, sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives and The Center for Association Leadership.
Vote for School Lunch 2008 - the Presidential Edition was a fun way for kids to get involved in the voting process, especially in the build up to the 2008 presidential election. Vote for School Lunch promoted civic participation as well as nutrition education by giving students nationwide the chance to pick their favorite school lunch. By learning more about the benefits of the healthy meals served as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), thousands of students got involved in campaigning for their favorite lunch entrée. The Vote for School Lunch Campaign was so popular with students because it was a fun way to empower kids to choose school lunch while providing nutrition education. The Campaign also showed parents the nutritional value of the popular foods being menued across the country through the National School Lunch Program. The winner of the Vote for School Lunch Campaign was Pete Pizza, made with whole grain crust and reduced fat cheese and served as part of a balanced lunch with salad greens and skim milk.
Now in its 19th year, the AAA Awards program recognizes associations and industry partners that improve the quality of life in America with innovative programs in education, skills training, standard setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship and community service. Selected by a panel of peers twice per year, Award of Excellence winners are automatically entered into consideration for the Summit Award, ASAE & The Center’s highest association honor. Summit Award winners will be honored at ASAE & The Center’s Summit Awards Dinner, September 29 in Washington, DC.
March 6, 2009 -- This March, encourage your students to “Eat Right’ by celebrating National Nutrition Month! This year, nutrition professionals across the country will be encouraging Americans to feel their best by making healthy food choices and being physically active everyday. National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign held by the American Dietetic Association to raise awareness about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. Registered Dietician Day is also celebrated is month on March 11th.
There is no better place to encourage healthy eating habits than in the school cafeteria. All meals served through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are healthy, balanced, and nutritious, meeting rigorous guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Children who eat meals at school consume more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products, compared to those who bring a lunch from home.
Encourage your students to develop healthy eating habits for life this March. For more information on National Nutrition Month, please visit the links below.
March 6, 2009 -- New York State Senator Darrel J. Aubertine and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have joined forces to advocate for programs which make locally grown fruits and vegetables more available in schools.
The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes schools to buy local produce that has not been processed for students to eat through the school based child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program and the Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program. For convenience, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program operates best when local produce has been washed, sliced and bagged, since it is eaten outside of the lunchroom.
A recent USDA memo on interpretation of what it means for local produce to be considered “processed” has closed up this market for local farms. A USDA policy memo dated January 9, 2009, states that " De minimis handling does not include chopped, cut, or diced products and therefore geographic preference may not be applied to agricultural products that have been chopped, cut, sliced, or diced." Senator Aubertine and Senator Gillibrand recently wrote a letter asking USDA Secretary Vilsack to reverse this interpretation, in order to "help the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program succeed in helping local agriculture and making our children healthier."
In the Farm Bill’s Joint Explanatory Statement, the authors of the bill said the term “unprocessed” should not be taken literally, but rather “logically implemented” to allow the preparation necessary to deliver farm products "to school food authorities in a usable form.”
See Related Links to access the USDA policy memo as well as the letter to Secretary Vilsack. USDA Memo January 9, 2009
Procurement Questions
Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) reintroduced legislation today that would regulate the sale of foods sold outside of the federal school nutrition programs. Approximately 88 members of Congress are co-sponsoring H.R. 1324, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009.
The current bill is very similar to bills introduced in the 109th and 110th Congresses. The legislation would update the definition of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value to correspond with current nutrition science. This bill would also expand the time and place rule, allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to have authority over competitive foods (foods and beverages sold on the school campus during the school day that compete with the nutritious offering of the National School Lunch Program.) SNA has long advocated that all foods served and sold in school should be held to an appropriate and consistent nutrition standard. Failure to apply the same rules to all foods sold/served on campus throughout the school day erodes the efforts schools are making to ensure the nutritional quality and value of school meals offered inside the cafeteria.
The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 addresses nutrition standards for foods served outside (and therefore not part of) the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The NSLP and SBP nutrition standards and meal pattern requirements are updated by the US Department of Agriculture and are required by law to be consistent with the goals of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
SNA supports the creation of a consistent, national nutrition standard for all foods served during the school day. A child’s nutrition needs are the same, whether they reside in Maine or Montana. Consistent standards are needed to promote wellness and send a clear message to students. SNA supports the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act as an important step in the right direction. Along with SNA, the following other groups support H.R. 1324: American Dental Association, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, Partnership for Prevention, Save the Children, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
March 5, 2009 -- The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the following scholarships:
For over 20 years, the School Nutrition Foundation has been raising funds to provide School Nutrition Association members the opportunity to pursue their higher education goals through a wide variety of scholarships. Increasing education costs, coupled with the growing demand for school nutrition personnel, remain the driving force behind the Foundation’s commitment to helping members and their dependents realize their academic dreams. To date, SNF has awarded almost $1 million dollars in scholarships.
Instructions and applications for all scholarships are available online. The application deadline is April 15, 2009.
For more information on the program and to download the application, please visit: http://www.schoolnutrition.org/scholarships
March 4, 2009 -- Dr. Katie Wilson, SNS, president of the School Nutrition Association, testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today. Wilson testified on the first panel during the hearing entitled “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children in Difficult Economic Times.” The other individuals testifying included:
In her testimony, Dr. Wilson discussed the need for increased funding for the school nutrition programs. She noted that many families who are struggling financially are turning to the child nutrition programs. Despite increased participation, the school nutrition programs are not adequately funded. Dr. Wilson also discussed how indirect costs charged by school districts are creating financial difficulties for the school nutrition programs. The need for national nutrition standards was also a key part of Dr. Wilson’s testimony. Dr. Wilson asked Congress to implement a consistent, national nutrition standard for all foods and beverages sold in schools based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
For more information, please see the links below.
Dr. Katie Wilson’s Testimony
Webcast of Committee Hearing March 4, 2009
Testimony of all witness
School Lunches Strained by Recession, Farm Panel Told
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
March 4, 2009 -- The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Annual National Conference (ANC) First Timer Scholarship. Since 2003, SNF has awarded over $83,000 in scholarships to assist SNA members attending ANC. These members have been able to take advantage of the valuable educational and professional development opportunities to advance their careers and grow the school nutrition profession.
The multiple $500 scholarships, made possible by generous funding from Winston Industries and Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc., may be used to cover registration and travel expenses associated with attending ANC in Las Vegas June 29 – July 2. Only SNA members from the employee or manager category are eligible for this scholarship and they must be nominated by their district director. The district director must be attending ANC as well.
Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted so we encourage you to apply sooner rather than. The application deadline is April 15, 2009. Applications may be submitted via fax or US mail.
For more information on the program and to download the application, please visit: http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=1810
For questions or additional information, please contact Evelyn Harvill, snf@schoolnutrition.org, 703-739-3900 x149.
March 3, 2009 -- The 2009 Legislative Action Conference is currently underway in Washington, DC. On Monday morning, March 2, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack received a standing ovation as he addressed over 700 hundred school nutrition professionals and called on them to work with him and the Obama Administration to end childhood hunger by the year 2015. One of SNA's key legislative priorities for this child nutrition reauthorization year is to secure adequate funding for federal child nutrition programs to ensure all children receive balanced, nutritious meals.
Below are some highlights from the conference:
For additional highlights from the conference, please visit From the Kitchen to the Congress.
March 2, 2009 -- Are you ready to be a school nutrition Superhero and Power Up your school with School Breakfast? National School Breakfast Week is here and SNA has plenty of fun tools and contests to help you promote awareness about the benefits of school breakfast. Power Up Activity Sheets SNA has a utility belt full of fun puzzles, quizzes and brainteasers for your students, all best served with school breakfast!
The 12 activity sheets feature the award winning designs of the school breakfast Superheroes. You will find easy coloring sheets, simple word searches and a slightly more difficult breakfast sudoku. Download them all today at www.schoolnutrition.org/nsbw
Design a School Breakfast Superhero Contest Are your students up to the challenge of designing the next School Breakfast superhero? The Design a School Breakfast Superhero Contest is challenging kids to draw and name their own school breakfast superhero and explain how their hero’s super powers will help kids ‘Power Up’ with school breakfast. Three national winners will receive a professional illustration of their School Breakfast Hero which will then be featured on www.schoolbreakfast.org
For more information and complete rules about the local and national level contests, and to download entry forms, please visit www.schoolnutrition.org/nsbw
The deadline to receive entries to the national level contest is March 20, 2009.
Power Up Participation Sweepstakes It’s not too late to tell SNA how the “Power Up with School Breakfast” promotion impacted your school breakfast participation and how you celebrated NSBW. Simply fill out the PowerSweeps form and in return you will be entered to win prize packs from the National Football League (NFL) for your students. At the end of March 2009, SNA will randomly choose 15 winners to receive NFL prize packs for their schools.
Visit www.schoolnutrition.org/PowerSweeps for more details and to enter. Power up with school breakfast and the School Breakfast Superheroes!