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Monthly Newsletter for Child Nutrition Administrators

April 2022

ESC Region 11 Child Nutrition

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me.

Fight Song

--Dave Bassett/Rachel Platten

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LISTEN TO THE LATEST NEWS

POLICY UPDATES & COMPLIANCE REMINDERS

If your district or charter has not completed the form FND-135 to designate a User Access Manager in TX-UNPS, do so today! TDA is retiring the form FND-101 this spring.

NEED HELP WITH P-EBT FOR SY2021-22?

Find out all of the ins and outs of the revised program:

TEA Memo outlines plan
USDA State Guidance on P-EBT includes Q&A
Recorded ESC Region 11 training and materials (3/21/22)

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SSO SITE APPLICATION GUIDANCE FOR THIS SUMMER

Sites that have not been previously approved will be created per standard SSO processing guidelines.
To streamline SSO application data entry, TDA will not require newly created sites to indicate summer operations when normal school ends and summer begins. Instead, existing sites will be revised to indicate summer operations.
DO NOT TOUCH YOUR APPLICATION UNTIL …. You Read this document in its entirety.
Be sure to update the sites and get approval BEFORE you file your first claim for summer feeding.

THE SUMMER OUTREACH NUMBER HAS CHANGED

As of February 1, 2022, all summer meal materials (printed and digital) must be recycled.
All resources on www.SummerFood.org/OutreachTools have been updated with the new number, 304-304.
Summer sponsors and sites can order new materials here.

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ELIGIBILITY CARRYOVER FOR 2022-2023

TDA is encouraging everyone to start taking applications for carryover if you are not already doing so. Here are some considerations when deciding if or how you will do this:

Utilize the online application if available. Have the district or charter send the link to all households.
Stress that this application is for carryover purposes only and a new application will be required for the 22-23 school year.
Do you typically hire staff to assist with processing applications? If so, how will you handle opening the application now?
Be sure you utilize the 21-22 Eligibility guidelines.
This is not a requirement; choose what's best for your district or charter.
Refresh your Eligibility knowledge by viewing the training we hosted last summer. You can access materials HERE.

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REMIX

COOL TOOLS

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DEAR ROSIE,

Our district has a student in the SPED program who was recently diagnosed with borderline diabetes. The parent sent the teacher a message with a copy of our menu that had circles around everything the student could eat. The teacher is asking the cafeteria staff to prepare the student tray ahead of time because the student is very upset. I went to the school today to talk to the teacher, and the student was screaming and crying about the food on the tray. I have so many questions! Can we premake the tray without a doctor's note? Can the teacher pick up the student's meal so that the student doesn't have to come down to the cafeteria? The student doesn't have a doctor's note on file. Please help me. I'm not sure what to do.

Sincerely,

CAUGHT BETWEEN A LUNCH AND A MOM

Dear CAUGHT,

Great questions! Yes, you absolutely must have a medical statement from a physician that specifically states what is required in terms of meals to manage the student's diabetes. Usually, a physician provides a carb count range. Then, the menu planner can provide carb counts for each menu item so that items within the range can be selected. A mother's note just won't do!

Also, if this student has a 504 on file, it will need to be amended with a plan for handling lunchtime service. A meeting to amend the 504 must include the CN director, dietitian/menu planner, and other members of the care team to determine what accommodations can be made. As long as you have these two pieces, you may follow them, even if they go against USDA/TDA regulations. In the meantime, I would reach out to the mother and have her get started on the medical statement. Meet with the principal and teachers to develop a temporary solution until a 504 meeting can take place.

Good luck!

ROSIE

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