School Nutrition Newsletter
February 3, 2021
Important Updates
NEW! Monthly Recap
- Miss a weekly newsletter or can't remember which newsletter featured a particular topic?
- IDOE now has a monthly recap newsletter that collects all important information from the prior month's newsletters.
- The monthly recap is:
- Organized chronologically, so you won't miss an important training or upcoming due date.
- Updated so schools won't have to wade through old, irrelevant information.
- Click here to access this continually updated resource.
- Future newsletters will have a button that easily links to the monthly recap.
inTEAM Training Platform Updated
- inTEAM has upgraded their eLearning platform!
- This upgrade makes for a better user experience with easier course searches, better reminders and reports, and the ability to instantly obtain certificates from courses.
- The website for accessing the eLearning courses has changed and can now be accessed at www.inteam-elearning.com.
- Click here for more information and frequently asked questions.
- Click here to access the user guide for the new system.
- Questions? Contact inTEAM Support.
Important Reminders Based on Technical Assistance with SFAs from IDOE
- All meal components must be offered to all students, in person, virtually, or any hybrid situation, in order to be reimbursable.
- Some of the meals for breakfast and lunch are missing entire components such as milk or a fruit, while others are missing portions of components, such as only giving ½ cup of a fruit or vegetable instead of the full required offering, depending upon which meal pattern is being followed.
- While the students do not have to take all components if implementing Offer versus Serve, they have to be available for selection at the point of service in order for the student to make the decision to decline a component. (i.e. milk must be offered to every student for breakfast and lunch. The student gets to choose if they are declining the milk.)
- Meals missing meal components require expansion of the technical assistance call to a targeted review.
- Incomplete meals must be disallowed and require fiscal action as well as corrective action.
Additionally, if operating the School Breakfast Program, in-school learners should have breakfast available in the morning when they arrive at school. There is no need to send a breakfast home the day before unless a type of hybrid learning situation is happening and that child will not be in school the next day.
Have questions and/or need clarification or guidance? Contact your Field Specialist.
FSSA’s Division of Family Resources Updated P-EBT Resources
Updated! P-EBT cards will be mailed at the end of February.
Please refer to the submission guidance information and parent flyer on the FSSA: DFR Pandemic EBT website.
Updated! Utilize this English P-EBT flyer and Spanish P-EBT flyer to send to households via e-mail, on the school's website, social media, etc.
Flyer has been updated to indicate an estimated issuance date of End of February 2021 for October-December 2020 eligible months.
Updated! P-EBT FAQ
- Questions for FSSA? Email PEBTQ@fssa.in.gov. Please note that this e-mail is ONLY for school use and should not be given to parents.
Child Nutrition Emergency Operating Costs
- The State Agency has received the guidance on the CN Emergency Operating Costs and are formulating the plan for payment to our sponsors.
- IDOE will apply to USDA by February 25th for approval.
- More details will be shared with sponsors on eligibility and the payment process once available.
- Payments will be distributed by late spring.
New IDOE Training Dates Announced
- Don't forget! IDOE will be hosting trainings throughout February.
- Click here for more information and to register.
- Have questions that you want addressed on the webinars? E-mail SCNTrainings@doe.in.gov.
Missed the February 2 "Developing a Food Service Emergency Plan" Webinar?
- Attendees were asked, "What is the one thing from this webinar that you will implement?" Their responses included:
- Sharing a Google sheet with pertinent personnel
- The importance of the Emergency Plan and all parties involved
- Making a master staffing schedule for a district wide closure
- Great to hear real life perspective-staff survey!
- I never thought about the keys
- To have more than one back-up plan
- Click here for the slides from the February 2 webinar on developing an emergency food service plan.
- Click here to access Emergency Plan Resources under Meal Service Resources.
- Questions about developing your emergency plan? Reach out to your field specialist.
Partner Opportunities
Fuel Up to Play 60: Refuel Your School Giveaway
- Save the Date! Throughout the week of Valentine's Day (Feb. 8-12), the Fuel Up to Play 60 team will be giving away food service equipment and activity-based prizes to help Refuel Your School.
- Each day, they will be broadcasting LIVE from their new Indiana Fuel Up to Play 60 Facebook page.
- To enter the Refuel Your School giveaway, your school must be a registered Fuel Up to Play 60 School and have an active Program Advisor. Registration for the giveaway will remain open through the end of the day on February 11.
- Questions? Contact Josh Leitman.
No Kid Hungry - Knowing Your Community
- No Kid Hungry will be hosting a two-part series to learn how you can know your community better and meet their unique needs.
- On February 18, learn how to identify and connect with families in your community and then, on February 25, hear how you can partner with stakeholders to increase your school nutrition program's reach.
- Click here for more information and to register.
- Questions? Contact Tarrah Westercamp at twestercamp@strength.org.
Indiana's No Kids Hungry Score Big with Breakfast Webinar
- On February 10, join panelists, Purdue Extension, IDOE, and American Dairy Association Indiana, for a “Score Big with Breakfast” session as we prepare for National School Breakfast Week.
- Panelists will be sharing resources, menu ideas, celebration ideas, and more.
- Click here to register.
- Questions? Contact Tarrah Westercamp at twestercamp@strength.org.
Pre-Order Survey Now Open
- IDOE's annual pre-order survey is now open!
- The pre-order survey must be completed in order for schools to receive USDA Foods for school year 2021-2022. Schools must be on the National School Lunch Program for at least one school year to be eligible.
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For information and training regarding the pre-order survey click here.
The survey is found in the CNPweb within the Food Distribution Program area.
Please note - if you get an error message saying you must have your NSLP information sheet completed for PY 2022, please ignore this. Your status can remain "uncertified" when completing the pre-order survey."
The survey closes Friday, March 12. Once the pre-order survey closes, it cannot be reopened.
Questions? Contact Cheryl Moore at cmoore@doe.in.gov.
Contact Us
Indiana Department of Education - School and Community Nutrition
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this newsletter, please contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0849, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20849, or contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0544, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20544.
Miss a Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter? Click here to access previous newsletters!
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Website: https://www.doe.in.gov/nutrition
Phone: (317) 232-0850
Twitter: @EducateIN