CNAC Meeting Minutes for February 18, 2009

Call to order (Leann Onasch)

Ms. Leann Onasch, Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) Chair, called the meeting to order at 9: 40 a.m. The Pledge of Allegiance followed.

Introductions

All members and guests introduced themselves.

Public Comment

No public comment was provided.

Approval of Agenda; Approval of October 22, 2008, Meeting Minutes

The meeting minutes from October 22, 2008, were approved by a unanimous vote.

Recruitment - Mary Rice

Mary reported that four members, Leann Onasch, Molly O’Kane, Lucy McProud, and Paula James were reappointed. Three new members have been appointed: Jody Ornellas (School Food Service Director), Debra Mason (Lay Person), and Diane Grooms (School Board Member). She is still recruiting for a school administrator. Leann Onasch expressed appreciation to Mary for doing such a good job ensuring that the vacancies were filled.

Reauthorization - Phyllis Bramson-Paul

Phyllis briefly explained that the federal Child Nutrition Programs administered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are due to be reauthorized by Congress this year, which means modifications will be made to the program. However, Congress may end up postponing it for a year for a variety of reasons. Phyllis summarized CDE’s priorities for Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

Reimbursement - Phyllis Bramson-Paul

Currently, California schools receive federal reimbursement totaling $2.57 for each free meal served, $2.17 for each reduced price meal, and $.26 for each full price meal. California requires schools to provide at least one nutritious meal a day and provides an additional $.2195 per meal. However, in the 2007-2008 school year there was an unanticipated 4.5 per cent increase in school meal participation, and the state meal appropriation was insufficient to reimburse all May and June claims. Current bimonthly surveys are showing a 10-12 percent increase in participation over last year. Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell is sponsoring legislation (assembly Bill 95/ Torlakson) which appropriates emergency funding of $19.5 million so that schools are fully reimbursed for all free and reduced priced meals they provide during the 2008-2009 school year.

Budget - Phyllis Bramson-Paul

In the current California budget, most categorical education programs were reduced by 15 percent, except a handful, including child nutrition. Also, flexibility in spending has been granted in most areas. However, the USDA’s regulations state that child nutrition funds cannot be used for other programs. A Management Bulletin will be sent to clarify the issue for districts.

Peanut Butter - Phyllis Bramson-Paul

The USDA recalled certain commodity peanut items in January. The Nutrition Services Division notified districts within about an hour.

Food Fundraisers

The Council discussed issues surrounding using food products as fund raisers. Some of the issues they discussed were:

• Revenue sharing and profit sharing
• Need for clarification on who can sell what and where
• Food safety
• Mixed messages students receive when they are being taught about making healthy choices and offered baked goods and candy for sale

Food Connect – Mike Danzik

Mike reported that CDE is no longer contracting with the California Healthy Kids Resource Center (CHKRC) to house the Foods for Healthy Schools compliant food and beverage database on their Web site. Instead, we are partnering with USDA to develop this database to be housed under the USDA’s Food Connect Web site. This database will provide a list of those foods and beverages compliant with SB 12, 965, 490 and the new regulations.

The Foods for Healthy Schools database on the Food Connect Web site will be free for manufacturers, vendors, etc. who want to post their nutrition information, and also free to the end-user.

NSD anticipates some development constraints as the Food Connect Web site is an existing government Web site and therefore may not be able to be designed to include all of the user-friendly features originally conceived under the CHKRC contract.

A logon to the Food Connect Web site is necessary, and we can supply how-to instructions (it is not difficult).

Currently a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) defining the development process is being developed, and circulated between and within NSD and USDA for approval. The site should be operable 60 to 90 days after the MOU is signed.

Council meeting schedule

April 22, 2009
June 17, 2009
August 5, 2009
October 21, 2009
December 9, 2009

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.