In the topic #2 below, the link to the income... the link first opens up, it is at the WIC...

From: Bushong, Linda (MDE) On Behalf Of Leikert, Howard (MDE)
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2014 11:50 AM
To: MDE-SchoolNutrition
Subject: CLARIFICATION - Howard's News from MDE 080414
In the topic #2 below, the link to the income guidelines may be misleading. When
the link first opens up, it is at the WIC income guidelines. You need to scroll down
to the bottom of page 12468 for school nutrition income guidelines. Do not use
the WIC guidelines.
I apologize for any inconvenience.
Howard Leikert, MBA, SNS
Supervisor, School Nutrition Programs
Michigan Department of Education
517-373-3892
Invest in a child’s future today. Support the MDE Culture of Reading.
www.michigan.gov/cultureofreading
From: Bushong, Linda (MDE) On Behalf Of Leikert, Howard (MDE)
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2014 2:43 PM
To: MDE-SchoolNutrition
Subject: Howard's News from MDE 080414
Some important information this edition of the News:
1) New Reimbursement Rates - On July 16, 2014, the Federal Register
published the School Year 2014-15 School Meals rates notice. The annual
payments and rates adjustments for the National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs reflect a 2.19 percent increase in the Food Away From
Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The
School Year 2014-15 School Meals rates notice is available at
http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cn/NAPs14-15chart.pdf.
2) Income Guidelines – Here are the income guidelines for determining free and
reduced meal status for School Year 2014-2015:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2014-04788.pdf
3) Smart Snacks – The new Smart Snacks rules are now in effect!! If you need
to brush up on the requirements, here are a couple links. This first one is for
a USDA website - http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/smart-snacksschool and this second one is for the link to MDE’s page on Smart Snacks
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-43092_50144-327975-,00.html.
4) Fact Sheets – Attached are three fact sheets we developed. One is about
grains; the other two are about the breakfast meal pattern for School Year
2014-2015. We hope these are helpful.
5) Feedback Wanted - Don’t forget! The training survey closes August 15 which
is right around the corner. Make sure your voice is heard! The School
Nutrition Programs unit has received an Administrative Review Training grant
from the USDA which gives us the opportunity to restructure training(s)
offered to those participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to
better meet your needs. Please complete this 10 item survey which covers a
variety of training formats/locations/ideas that we are currently
considering. Thank you!
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S9Y7M9M.
Survey closes: August 15, 2014.
6) The School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Application – The new application for
SNP should be available on MEGS+ by Friday. The application is due October
15, 2014.
7) Equipment Grant – We are currently in the review process of the Equipment
Grant. Over 500 sites requested the grant and it appears we will be able to
fund less than 40. We will have the grant notices out within the next few
weeks as it goes through the approval process.
8) Building Healthy Communities - The Michigan Department of Community
Health has joined the BHC program, expanding the opportunity to more
schools and children. A second application period has been opened for the
upcoming 2014-2015 school year. We invite you to encourage schools to
apply for this program. To expand the opportunity to more schools and
children, all public, charter and nonprofit private elementary and middle
schools in Michigan are encouraged to apply for the program by August 20,
2014. Schools interested in applying for Building Healthy Communities can
join an informational conference call on August 5 at 1:00 p.m. or August 12
at 1:00 p.m. To join, call 800-462-5837 and entering pass code
210301#. Program descriptions (attached) and application information are
located at http://www.bcbsm.com/index/about-us/why-choose-us/healthycommunities/grants-and-contributions.html. Those interested in applying
can also email [email protected] or call 517-325-4595 for additional
information. Schools receiving the program will be announced in September.
Building Healthy Communities is an evidence-based, comprehensive initiative
that fights childhood obesity by surrounding children and families with
healthy eating and physical activity. Its wide-ranging approach includes:
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Educating students through curriculum
Providing a healthy, supportive environment that makes the healthy
choice the easy choice
Encouraging students to practice lessons learned in the classroom
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Increasing access to physical activity opportunities
Increasing access to healthy, nutrient-rich food and beverages
Building Healthy Communities is a partnership between Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan
Fitness Foundation, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, University of Michigan,
and Wayne State University Center for School Health.
9) Team Nutrition - Please take note that Grow It, Try it, Like it! is now
available in print. Although this resource was developed for child care
providers, it is also available free of charge to SFSP and NSLP operators. The
online version is available as well.
http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/growitprint/GrowIt.html
10) Nutrition Education - Fantastic USDA website
http://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday showing topic-specific policy and
resource materials to assist schools in meeting the new nutrition standards.
Find free nutrition education curricula, get ideas for adding tasty, kid-friendly
foods to school meals, or take a look at success stories, best practices, and
how-to guides to enhance your school meals and lunchroom environment:
Focusing on Smart Snacks in School, Offering Fruits and Vegetables, Reducing
Sodium, and Serving Whole Grain-Rich foods.
11) Meet Up, Eat Up, and Read UP! - The Michigan Department of Education
(MDE) has partnered with First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides
access to free and low-cost new books for schools and programs serving
children in need. This partnership will provide all of the more than 1,400
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites with a collection of free books
aimed at keeping kids excited about reading during the summer. For more
information, see the attached News Release.
Want to get this out so this is it for now. Have a great remainder of the summer.
Howard Leikert, MBA, SNS
Supervisor, School Nutrition Programs
Michigan Department of Education
517-373-3892
Invest in a child’s future today. Support the MDE Culture of Reading.
www.michigan.gov/cultureofreading