FILE: EE
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
The Washington Parish School Board believes the school district should have a sound child nutrition program and that the child nutrition program should be an integral part of the total educational program. The School Board also believes that the highest possible sanitation standards should be maintained and that every effort should be made to make it possible for every child to participate in the child nutrition program without regard to race, color, disability, national origin, sex, or age.
GUIDELINES
The School Board shall administer a Food and Nutrition Program in accordance with federal and state standards and requirements. The School Board, as the recognized child nutrition program authority for the school district, shall annually approve the national school lunch program, school breakfast program, U.S.D.A school commodity programs and any other related programs. The approved agreement shall meet all specifications mandated by the Louisiana Department of Education's Division of Nutrition Support.
Guidelines of the Louisiana Sanitary Code shall be strictly followed in the preparation, serving, and cleaning of all child nutrition programs and facilities.
Each school shall abide by state and federal guideline restrictions on the operation of concessions, canteens, snack bars, vending machines or other food and beverage sales.
No supplies or foods, including leftovers, shall be removed from the child nutrition department by any employee of the school system unless he/she has been authorized to transfer the items to another school location. Disciplinary action may result for unauthorized food removal.
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION (CEP)
All schools of the Washington Parish School Board participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which is a federally funded non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the qualifying districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.
OUTSIDE FOOD BROUGHT TO SCHOOL
The Director of Child Nutrition and the school principals have the authority to regulate the outside food items brought in the school during the school day. For the purposes of this policy, school day shall be defined in accordance with 7 CFR 210.11 as beginning at midnight until thirty (30) minutes after the official school day ends. Students and staff are not allowed to bring or have someone bring them any commercially labeled food or beverage for consumption. This pertains to those foods sold by local restaurants and/or Fast Food establishments.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Special events should not interfere with the preparation and service of school lunch, breakfasts, or snacks. School functions involving the use of the cafeteria shall be arranged through the principal and approved by the child nutrition supervisor. Whenever the cafeteria is used by the school, one or more of the child nutrition employees shall be in charge to ensure control over child nutrition foods and to ensure proper use and care of equipment and facilities. A Special Event form must be completed and sent to the supervisor of child nutrition at least two (2) weeks in advance of the event. Events that occur at scheduled times during the school year can be handled by sending in one notice listing all of the dates.
DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS
Schools must accept and process any written or oral complaint, even anonymous complaints, alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap within ninety (90) days of receipt. (A complaint form does not have to be filled out by the person making the complaint.)
Once a complaint is received, it is to be documented and sent to the School Food Service Office, who will then forward it to the Federal USDA through the Louisiana Department of Education. (The investigation shall be conducted by the Federal USDA.)
Any person alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap has a right to file a complaint within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the alleged discriminatory action.
If the complaint is made orally, in person, by telephone, or if the complainant does not choose to make the complaint in writing, the person receiving the complaint shall write up the elements of the complaint. Every effort should be made to have the complainant provide the following information:
The specific location and name of the entity delivering the program service of benefit.
The nature of the incident(s) or action(s) that led the complainant to feel discrimination was a factor.
The basis on which the complainant feels discrimination exists, such as race, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap.
The names, titles, and addresses of persons who may have knowledge of the discriminatory action(s).
The date(s) during which the alleged discriminatory action occurred or, if continuing, the duration of such actions.
The name, address, and the telephone number or other means of contacting the complainant. Anonymous complaints must be accepted.
| Revised: October, 1997 | Revised: October 10, 2013 |
| Revised: April, 1999 | Revised: September 11, 2014 |
| Revised: August, 2005 | Revised: February 16, 2017 |
| Revised: October 7, 2010 | Revised: March 15, 2018 |
Ref: 42 USC 1751 et seq. (School Lunch Programs)
42 USC 1771 et seq. (Child Nutrition)
7 CFR 210 (National School Lunch Program)
7 CFR 220 (School Breakfast Program)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:82, 17:191, 17:192, 17:192.1, 17:193, 17:194, 17:195, 17:196, 17:197, 17:197.1, 17:198, 17:199, 39:2101, 40:4
Louisiana Sanitary Code, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
Board minutes, 2-25-99, 4-22-99, 6-15-06, 10-7-10, 10-10-13, 9-11-14, 2-16-17, 3-15-18
Washington Parish School Board