Fannin County School Nutrition Program to Receive Additional 6-Cents Reimbursement for School Meals

Press Release:

June 1, 2013 – Blue Ridge, Georgia – Fannin County School Nutrition Program is now certified to receive 6-cents reimbursement for all school lunches served. The Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program (GaDOE SNP) certifies that Fannin County School Nutrition Program met all qualifications of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) new meal pattern for breakfast and lunch. In recognition of the great effort required for receiving this award, GaDOE SNP presented Fannin County School Nutrition Program with a plaque to commemorate its 6-cents certification status.

Director of School Nutrition, Candice Sisson stated that meeting the qualifications for the new meal pattern was no easy task. There were many changes in the amount of grains, proteins, and calories students of different age groups were required to receive–both daily and weekly. In addition, requirements were set in place that required students to take a minimum of ½ cup of fruits or vegetables daily. When state auditors came to validate our menus, the not only reviewed our menu items and serving sizes, they reviewed what students actually had on their plates. It took the entire School Nutrition staff along with faculty and students for our program to be successful.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA), signed by President Obama in 2010 required the implementation of changes in the meal pattern for school lunches and breakfasts served in cafeterias throughout the US. As an incentive to implement these changes early, HHFKA also requires that an additional 6 cents be reimbursed to school districts which certify that each meal served meets the requirements of the new meal pattern.

Although the USDA timeline for changes identified in the new meal pattern is phased in over several years, school districts may choose to implement changes beforehand. The qualification requires that the school district be in compliance with the new meal pattern for both lunch and breakfast, if breakfast is served. School districts that meet these qualifications may apply for 6-cents certification. In Georgia, more than 115 school districts are certified, indicating that GaDOE SNP is on target with modifications set by the HHFKA and the USDA to provide healthy meals to students served.

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