Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page
Description
This page provides considerations for serving meals while reducing the risk of COVID-19 in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. For further information on serving student meals, refer to the California Department of Education (CDE) Guidebook for the Safe Reopening California's Public Schools.
Meal Service Operational Changes for COVID-19
Stakeholder Input
Meal Service Scenarios
Meal Service Operational Changes for COVID-19
The chart below outlines operational changes for various meal service topics and compares the 2019 practices with recommended modifications for COVID -19 meal service to promote safety. Use this chart to help identify modifications needed when schools reopen.
| Meal Service Topic | 2019 Practices | COVID-19 Modifications to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Protective Equipment |
|
|
| Cafeteria | Students sit next to each other elbow to elbow |
|
| Salad Bar |
|
Individually wrapped (IW) Products |
| Offer Versus Serve (OVS) | Offer choices and required for high schools |
|
| Point of Service Pin Pads | Students manually enter |
|
| Share Tables |
|
No share stations |
| Staffing | Standard schedule for serving meals in the cafeteria and ensuring food safety and sanitation | Modified staff schedules to accommodate different meal service models and enhanced cleaning schedules |
Stakeholder Input
When planning for a new service model, it is important to identify stakeholders that may need to provide buy-in to the plan including district leadership, the school board, students, parents, and the community. In addition, it is vital that your service model align with local, state, and federal requirements including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Meal Service Scenarios
The following provides a review of different meal service options and the considerations that need to be made with each scenario.
Scenario 1: Distance Learning
In this scenario, all school campuses are closed, and all students participate in distance learning.
Mobile Meal Service Option
Offer distance learner meal pick-up at some or all school sites
Onsite Meal Service Option
None
Hot Food
Package individually in “to go” containers with reheating instructions including Critical Control Points (CCP).
Cold Food/Salad Bars
- Packaged in the same container with food safety instructions
- Consider using bulk foods when serving multiple meals for multiple days
USDA Nationwide Waivers for the 2020–21 School Year
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Offer Versus Serve for Senior High
- Parent/Guardian Meal Pick Up
Items Needed
- Packing Materials for Mobile Meal Service
- Procedures for meal counting and claiming
Communication Updates
- District Message to Families
- District/Department Social Media Board Communications
Scenario 2: Hybrid Learning or Blended Learning Model
In this scenario students might come to school once or a few times per week or some students may come to campus for face-to-face instruction while others participate in distance learning.
Mobile Meal Service Options
- Offer both distance learner meal pick-up and on-site meal service for those students on campus
- Offer distance learner meal pick-up at all or some school sites. Food packaged cold with reheating instructions including CCP
Onsite Only Meal Service Options
- Meals in the classroom
- Food assembled, sealed in containers and delivered to the classroom
- Food held in warmers or on ice as appropriate
- Meals served in the cafeteria
- Reduced capacity to allow for social distancing and six feet spacing
- Staff may plate items for students based on choices
- Grab and Go kiosks
- Prepackaged food items assembled in to go containers or bags and served at carts station on campus
- Food held in warmers or on ice as appropriate
Cold Food/Salad Bars
- Packaged in the same container with food safety instructions
- Consider using bulk foods when serving multiple meals for multiple days
USDA Nationwide Waivers for the 2020–21 School Year
Students receiving instruction on campus:
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Offer Versus Serve for Senior High
Students receiving instruction through distance learning:
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Offer Versus Serve for Senior High
- Parent/Guardian Meal Pick Up
Items Needed
- Meals in the classroom: Packing materials and insulated delivery bags.
- Meals served in cafeteria: To assist with safety and social distancing floor decals, signs, and plexiglass on registers.
- Grab and Go kiosks: Carts with plexiglass and social distancing floor decals.
- Updated meal counting and claiming procedures that match all service models.
Communication Updates
- District Message to Families
- District/Department Social Media
- Board Communications
Scenario 3: All Students on Campus in Staggered Shifts
In this scenario, all schools are open, and students participate in either a morning or afternoon schedule
Onsite Meal Service Options
- Meals in the classroom
- Food assembled, sealed in containers and delivered to the classroom
- Food held in warmers or on ice as appropriate
- Meals served in the cafeteria
- Reduced capacity to allow for social distancing and six feet spacing
- Staff may plate items for students based on choices
- Grab and Go kiosks
- Prepackaged food items assembled in to go containers or bags and served at carts station on campus
- Food held in warmers or on ice as appropriate
Cold Food/Salad Bars
Packaged in the same container with food safety instructions.
Consider using bulk foods when serving multiple meals for multiple days.
USDA Nationwide Waivers for the 2020–21 School Year
Students receiving instruction on campus:
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Offer Versus Serve for Senior High
Students receiving instruction through distance learning:
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Offer Versus Serve for Senior High
- Parent/Guardian Meal Pick Up
Items Needed
- Meals in the Classroom: Packing materials and insulated delivery bags
- Meals served in cafeteria: To assist with safety and social distancing floor decals, signs, and plexiglass on registers
- Grab and Go kiosks: Carts with plexiglass and social distancing floor decals
- Updated Meal counting and claiming procedures
Communication Updates
- District Message to Families
- District/Department Social Media
- Board Communications
Scenario 4: All Students on Campus
In this scenario, all schools are open, and all students participate in classroom education at the same time.
Onsite Meal Service Option
- Meals in the classroom
- Food assembled, sealed in containers and delivered to the classroom
- Food held in warmers or on ice as appropriate
- Meals served in the cafeteria
- Reduced capacity to allow for social distancing and six feet spacing
- Staff may plate items for students based on choices
- Grab and Go kiosks
- Prepackaged food items assembled in to go containers or bags and served at carts station on campus
- Food held in warmers or on ice as appropriate
Cold Food/Salad Bars
Packaged in the same container with food safety instructions.
Consider using bulk foods when serving multiple meals for multiple days.
USDA Nationwide Waivers for the 2020–21 School Year
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Offer Versus Serve for Senior High
Items Needed
- Meals in the classroom: Packing materials and insulated delivery bags
- Meals served in cafeteria: To assist with safety and social distancing floor decals, signs, and plexiglass on registers
- Grab and Go kiosks: Carts with plexiglass and social distancing floor decals
- Updated meal counting and claiming procedures
Communication Updates
- District Message to Families
- District/Department Social Media Board Communications
Scenario 5: Unanticipated School Closure
In this scenario, one school or all schools in a district close suddenly.
Mobile Meal Service Option
Seek CDE approval to offer meal service to affected site(s) through the Seamless Summer Option and Summer Feeding Service Program due to unanticipated school closure.
Onsite Meal Service
None at affected schools
Hot Food
Package individually in “to go” containers with reheating instructions.
Cold Food/Salad Bars
Packaged in the same container with food safety instructions.
Consider using bulk foods when serving multiple meals for multiple days.
USDA Waivers Needed
- Meal Service Time Flexibility
- Noncongregate Feeding
- Meal Pattern Flexibility
- Parent/Guardian Meal Pick Up
Items Needed
Packing materials for Mobile Meal Service.
Communication
- District Message to Families
- District/Department Social Media
- Board Communications
Contact Information
If you have questions about planning for you meal service operations, please contact contact Mia Bertacchi, Child Nutrition Assistant, Northern School Nutrition Program Unit (SNPU), by phone at 916-445-1261 or by email at mbertacchi@cde.ca.gov, or Lori Porter, Child Nutrition Consultant, Southern SNPU, by phone at 916-322-1454 or by email at lporter@cde.ca.gov.