Outlook: Nutrition programs

              www.isbe.net/nutrition – 1 – NOVEMBER 2005
The
OUTLOOK
Nutrition Programs
Illinois State Board of Education
NOVEMBER 2005
b u l l e t i n
b o a rd
In this issue…
School Food Safety Inspections .......................................... 1
Verification Deadlines .......................................................... 1
Illinois School Breakfast Week, November 13–19 ........... 2
New Berlin Students Learn Healthy Habits Through
Body Walk.......................................................................... 2
ADMINISTRATION
Questions and Answers ........................................................ 2
School Meals Initiative Reviews Update for School Year
2005–2006 .......................................................................... 3
Carryover of Previous Year’s Eligibility ............................ 3
Claim Common Cent$ .......................................................... 3
School Food Allergy Program Guide to Managing Food
Allergies Available Free .................................................... 4
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Illinois Commodity System Website Change ................... 4
TRAINING, TIPS, and TOOLS
National School Lunch Program Basic Training a Hit! ... 4
FOOD SERVICE and NUTRITION
Eat to Be Smart and Healthy! ............................................. 5
Make Half Your Grains Whole ............................................ 5
GRANTS, AWARDS, and HONORS
Mini-Grants for Physical Activity and Nutrition
Improvements Available .................................................. 5
OTHER
Vote in the School Nutrition Association Election .......... 6
Calendar of Events ................................................................ 6
School Food Safety Inspections
Beginning with the 2005–2006 school year, all schools participating in the National School
Lunch or School Breakfast Programs are required to obtain a minimum of two food safety
inspections each school year. Previously, participating schools were required to obtain a minimum
of one food safety inspection per school year or comply with the frequency required by local
standards. This is a result of the passage of Section 111 of the Child Nutrition and Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265).
The required inspections must be conducted
by a State or local governmental agency
responsible for food safety inspections.
More frequent inspections may still be
required by State or local governments. In
addition, schools must post, in a publicly
visible location, a report on the most recent
food safety inspection, and provide a copy of
the food safety inspection report to a
member of the public upon request. If you
have questions about this change, please
contact your local public health department.
Verification Deadlines
Verification is the confirmation of
eligibility for free and reduced-price
meals under the National School Lunch and
School Breakfast Programs. Annually, each
local education agency (LEA) must select
and verify a sample of applications approved
for benefits as of October 1. The local
education agency must complete verification
of this minimum sample size by November
15. The local education agency must then
submit a Verification Summary Report
electronically to the Illinois State Board of
Education (ISBE) by January 18. (The
report will be available online in
November.)
Note that the sample selection methods
have changed per reauthorization! For
a listing of steps to complete the
verification process, sample letters to
households, and instructions to
complete the Verification Summary
Report, go to www.isbe.net/nutrition/
htmls/forms_sbn.htm.