Services: School Nutrition Services
School Nutrition Services
Mary Hunn, RD
Director of School Nutrition Services
O: 651-645-0200, X3017; C: 651-485-1576; mhunn@designlearn.net
School Nutrition Programs Administration
Comprehensive on-site school food and nutrition consulting services are available to assist with overall administrative requirements of federal and state-funded school nutrition programs, provide guidance for food service operations, and advise on related business and financial issues.
Food Service Management Assessment
A comprehensive management evaluation can be completed to determine the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of school food service operations and administration. Recommendations can include identifying approaches to increasing revenue and decreasing expenditures, determining areas for improvement and change, streamlining operational and business processes, and addressing issues or problems.
Systems Development and Implementation
Depending on the food service situation in the school, systems development and implementation projects can be completed. Start-up Projects would be appropriate for a school that does not have any food service program and/or does not participate in any federal and state-funded school nutrition programs. Systems Improvement Projects can be done in any situation where there is a need to improve school food and nutrition programs.
Training and Technical Assistance
Depending on the food service situation in the school, training and technical assistance can be conducted for school staff. Start-up Training and Technical Assistance would be appropriate for a school that does not have any food service program and/or does not participate in any federal and state-funded school nutrition programs. Program Improvement Training and Technical Assistance can be done in any situation where there is a need to improve school food and nutrition programs.
Compliance Review/Audit Coordination
Coordination services are available that provide guidance on program compliance for all types of reviews required for school food authorities (SFA) that receive federal and state funding for school nutrition programs. These reviews include the Administrative Coordinated Review Effort (CRE), Follow-up CRE, and School Meals Initiative (SMI) Review.
Local School Wellness Policy Coordination
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265) requires schools participating in federally funded school nutrition programs to develop and implement a local school wellness policy. Policy coordination services include establishing policy project group(s), conducting an assessment of current activities, developing a policy that includes the required five components in law, requesting school board approval and adoption, implementing the policy through a policy action plan, and developing an evaluation plan that measures the effectiveness of the policy in promoting school health.
Food Safety HACCP Program Coordination
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265) requires schools participating in federally funded school nutrition programs to develop and implement a food safety program for school meals based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance. Program coordination services include reviewing existing food service operations and developing standard operating procedures (SOP), standardized recipes that include critical control points, monitoring plans, recordkeeping forms, and corrective action plans, and conducting training for staff on food safety program requirements.
New Funding Opportunities Research and Development
Services are available for researching new funding opportunities, developing and writing proposals, and coordinating new initiatives and projects for schools. Examples of potential funding include grants, awards, donations, and contributions from a variety of federal, state, and local government sources, as well as from business foundations and other organizations.
