There are many reasons to be excited for the New York State budget to be passed this year, and we are still waiting eagerly for the final budget. Among the most important budget proposals that we believe will pass is a change to the State program that supplements the reimbursement that schools get from the Federal government for the National School Lunch Program, NSLP. Last year was the first year that NYS introduced this program, but it was only for schools that are eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision, CEP. This year’s proposed program was amended to include schools that participate in the NSLP though the collection of lunch forms and have eligibility levels under the CEP threshold. The proposed legislation also adds $160 million to the first year’s $180 million allocation. Many schools are taking a serious look at NSLP as a result.
There will be a NYSED Child Nutrition webinar on May 21st that addresses how to become a school food authority. Any school with interest in NSLP should join this webinar. Click here for the link.
In addition, the NYSED Child Nutrition department has suggested that schools considering to participate in the federal school meals programs should use this link to request an application. Currently, they are not distributing the application due to the impending legislation. However, those who request an application through the provided link will receive one as soon as it becomes available. The goal is to distribute the application before the webinar, allowing schools time to review and begin filling it out. During the webinar, they will go over the application in detail, and schools will have the opportunity to ask questions.
In the meantime, schools should determine how they will acquire meals and contact their local health department to ensure they have any required permits. There are several options for meal preparation. Each option has its own benefits and considerations, depending on the school’s resources, facilities, and specific needs:
- Self-Preparation: School prepares meals on-site in their own kitchens.
- Vended Meals: Schools contract with external vendors to provide pre-prepared meals. These meals are delivered to the school, where they may be reheated and served.
- Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs): Schools contract with FSMCs to manage various aspects of their food service operations. FSMCs can handle menu planning, meal preparation, delivery, and even staffing. They provide comprehensive services, often including on-site meal preparation and serving. Schools that want to contract with a FSMC must use the standard template we provide. More information on contracting with a FSMC can be found here: https://www.cn.nysed.gov/fsmc
NYSED Child Nutrition department is compiling some general information about operating these programs and will share it in the future. For any questions, please reach out to our TeachNYS team.