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Community of Practice Call June 3, 2021
Community of Practice Call June 3, 2021
About this Series
The Center for Ecoliteracy and LunchAssist host regular Community of Practice calls where we review the latest policy updates and highlight tools, best practices, and lessons learned from school districts and allied organizations across the state of California. This free series offers an opportunity for districts to connect with one another, share ideas, and build connections with community partners and government agencies around the state.
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Chat: Community of Practice Call June 3, 2021
Welcome! Please introduce yourself by typing your name, position, and where you work into the chat box. Also, how will you continue fostering the new partnerships that you created this year?Good Morning! Alicia Pitrone from Escondido High School DIstrict.Hi... I am Agnes Lally from Garden Grove USDNicole Hite- Nutrition Services Operations Supervisor, San Dieguito Union HSDSally Spero, retired school lunch nerdGood Morning! Stephanie Bruce Palm Springs USDRobert Lewis, CEO, Santa Clarita Valley SFSA - JPAKursten Orr, Bonsall USDGood Morning! Bryan Miller Assistant Director of Child Nutrition Madera Unified.Hi everyone, I’m so sorry I can’t stay on this call today. This has been such an amazing group and wonderful support during this year. Thank you, thank you for all the learnings and good cheer. Christina Hecht, UC Nutrition Policy Institute.Alyssa Ribaya from Oxnard Union High School DistrictHello! Chela Cooper, Maryland State Dept of Education, School Nutrition Operations and Culinary SpecialistGood Morning everyone!Good Morning, Marley Nelms, Dir. Nutrition Services San Dieguito Union High School DistrictGood Morning Everyone :) Ana Grajeda from Los Angeles Academy of Arts Los AngelesMorning everyone! Abby Halperin, Policy and Grants Manager at the Center for Ecoliteracy.Good morning! Naomi Shadwell, Director of CNS, San Marcos Unified School DistrictBethany Markee from Orcutt USDLaurel Goins Director Lucia Mar. Hi all!Good morning! Lea Bonelli, Encinitas USDGood Morning Vicki from Patterson Unified, Nutrition Service DirectorBuenos dias, everyone! Emma Finn here from Friends of the Earth :)Morning everyone! I’m Yanelly Alonso from Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA) :)Emily Cena, Director of Food & Nutrition, Ramona Unified School DistrictMarc Milton, Downey USDNational Director Marion Williams, Wellness in the SchoolsGood Morning! Kamilah WilliamsC Hernandez, Marfa ISD, TexasGood morning everyone - Jen here from LunchAssist. I am so thankful for all of the new friends and partnerships we’ve made this year. I am looking forward to staying connected with all of you!Colleen Robinson SDUSD Food and Nutrition ServicesGood morning, Kari Johnson from Lunch at the Library Program!Morning All! Erin Primer at SLCUSD :) Will continue to connect with like minded school foodies!!Kamilah Williams, Assistant Director, Glendale Unified School DistrictGood morning! Rosa Rubio from Calistoga JUSDCathy Moura, Food Services Director, Wright District Santa RosaJoin the LunchAssist community here: [link]Jess Simonson - I’m a Project Manager with the Center for Ecoliteracy and have been sitting in the background for _every_ Community of Practice call. I’ll miss y’all but I’m looking forward to continuing to work with some of you as I support some virtual events and our grant projects !Robin Hernandez, No Kid HungryHello everyone. Julia Oberst, Coordinator of Food & Nutrition Services for the Levy County School District in Florida.Suzanne Lugotoff R.D., SNS - Oxnard School DistrictGood MorningHello everyone!Jizel Kazangian -- Glendale Unified School District- Nutrition Services Senior Admin. Assistant.Cathleen Olsen, Winters JUSDGood Morning!Cindy Long - Cook - Loleta SchoolSusan Dalandan, Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council, PAAmanda Mascia, Hunger Free Kids Manager, San Diego Hunger CoalitionAmber Watson, Marysville Joint Unified School District, CAGood Morning to everyone! So thankful for all of you and looking forward to continuing to stay connected in the coming school year.Jennifer Gonzales Glendale USDThis is just the last call for the school year correct? :)Suzy Sayre El Monte Union HS DistrictFor you folks in other states... what are you experiencing for school and kindergarten registration for SY 2021-22? Our school districts are very concerned because they are way behind!Geri Lorenzana, Mountain View SDWhat is Cultural Competence and Why is It Important for School Nutrition Professionals? [link]Michelle, yes, this is our last community of practice call — we’ll share some ways to stay in touch at the end of the call.Charlie Hoffs (she/her) - student and co-lead of youth-led food justice organization unBox! ([link] Excited to be here and learn from you all!Happy Pride! <3Thank you SO much fro including Pride Month in your presentation today! You did not have to do that but you did!! Very impressive as an organization. You guys rock!Good Morning! Frances Montoya Food Service Director Vaughn Next Century Learning CenterHappy Pride!Happy Pride!re: appropriations act - are these only in effect through September 30, 2021?Chicken from China?! Really?USDA Waiver #97: [link]We were told that the certification is to be signed by the vendor and we just need to require it as part of our bid documentsAnd update our procurement procedures to include the prohibitiongot it, thanks!For PRO Members: Vendor Certification Template - [link]Can they also ban factory-farmed chicken from the commodity program? HAThank you to the LunchAssist team for all the information and support over the past year-plus! Deirdre Kleske, County of San Diego HHSACan you put up the link for the vendors to signeOrlando - here you go: [link]Thank you.CDE Confirmed bulk items from April 2020 must be prepared --This is what was shared with me as the language to justify the bulk updates [link]bulkThank you Kat. CDE doesn't understand that serving cooked rice and pasta is a potentially hazardous food!!^whoops! Sent ‘bulk’ in the comments in error! Sorry!Thank youFor inspiration on cooked rice and pasta, please take a look at Korean convenience innovations. They have cooked rice and pasta down to a perfect science!Yes please send out the Pro/Con for alternate income formLCFF is so much easier. We set it up in a google form and send a link to parents who need to complete them.Meal Applications vs. Alt. Income Forms: Pros & Cons - [link]Sign on to support School Meals for All in CA Budget: [link]Ask @CAGovernor @GavinNewsom to support #SchoolMealsForAll on social media with the toolkit here [link]Learn more about school meals for all [link]Does CA do direct enrollment for SNAP and other benefits? This is the most important reason to collect f/r meal applications. Second important reason is for establishing basis for community eligibility.Thank you Abby for your work on this!Could LunchAssist make a nice flyer that could be used to go along with Income Form, so that we could try to get more parents to fill them out? I feel like it's like trying to get parents to pull teeth.Y 2021 Spring/Summer SNP Checklist: [link]That would be awesome!Suzanne - yes! We’ve had this request from a few schools and are working on developing some materialsCorrection: SY 2021 Spring/Summer SNP Checklist: [link]Budget deficit relief - does this mean help for revenue loss from March 2020 to date??Thank you for addressing this topic!Cultural Competence for SNPs: [link]Love this!Great job on the website. The resources are so valuable.@Jennifer great question. There’s already federal relief funding for March 2020 - June 2020 & CA state relief funding for March 2020 - August 2020 (this is the $0.75 a meal secured in last year’s budget), so I believe that this current funding for budget deficit relief would be for the 2020-21 school year, but we’re waiting to see more details in the trailer bill language.How to Use Emergency Procurement: [link]read this blog post this morning, such a clear and helpful explanation!Learn more about the AR Boot Camp: [link]No Kid Hungry, Summer Meals Outreach Kit [link]No Kid Hungry, New Tips for Staffing Summer Meal Programs https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/resource/tips-staffing-summer-meals-program
00:54:18
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
USDA, Summer Food, Summer Moves in English and Spanish https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/summer-food-summer-moves00:54:42
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
Nutrition Policy Institute and Purdue University, Tap Water Safety When Reopening Buildings After COVID-19 Shutdowns https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/349331.pdf00:54:56
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
Nutrition Policy Institute, Effective Access to Drinking Water in Schools https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/348566.pdf00:55:11
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
Meals4families https://meals4families.community/00:55:30
Kate Hanson:
Thanks Crystal. Communication can be challenging! meals4families.org makes it easy for you to connect with the families you support. Use this survey to join the Meals4Families community: https://forms.gle/cS1cz9oXBfbiuZkFA00:55:55
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
National Farm to School Network, Driving Sustainable Farm to School Initiatives Through the Farm to School Institute Model https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtceqqpj4qE90vgXjAM4CyveMJypcMXD6900:56:46
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
Food Corps, Celebrating 75 Years of the National School Lunch Program, June 8th, 10:30 PDT https://foodcorps.org/75years/00:57:24
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
Edible Schoolyard, Virtual training to support edible educators https://edibleschoolyard.org/online-training00:57:35
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
FRAC, Planning for Next School Year: Waivers, Meal Service Options, Best Practices and School Meal Application Outreach, June 17, noon PDT https://frac.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=frac&service=6&rnd=0.6459969323843283&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffrac.webex.com%2Fec3300%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26%26%26EMK%3D4832534b00000004cd769a564fed8c26c39cb28ff847c2de856f2c90795ba414880a86e75a7768ad%26siteurl%3Dfrac%26confViewID%3D192949422662889463%26encryptTicket%3DSDJTSwAAAATdBCR9G6LWcpnOPsa5wgkeLVACnPkRgT6EfGjCIYPAoA2%2600:59:44
Debbi Dodson:
These calls were a touch of sanity during this very crazy year. Thanks so much!00:59:55
Michael Jochner:
Feels like the band is breaking up.... :(00:59:57
Erin Primer:
THANK YOU Center for Ecoliteracy & Lunch Assist for the incredible resources and support - it's made such a difference for all of us!!01:00:06
Susan Dalandan:
This series has been wonderful! It has inspired work here in our area and has been a wonderful source of information and practice sharing! Thank you!01:00:09
Emma Finn:
<3 <3 <3 Thank you all so much!01:00:15
Alicia Pitrone:
Thank you!01:00:26
Molly Stenberg:
We are so very thankful to you and the excellent resources your program developed to help schools across the nation.01:00:29
Heather Reed:
Thank you for your expertise andcongrats on being a mom01:00:29
KRisten TEkell:
Yes, thank you so much for all these calls!!!01:00:29
Mariela Garcia:
Thank you for helping us navigate this challenging year! Much appreciated!!01:00:32
Vikeshni Diyal:
Thank you for all the resources. It is very helpful01:00:33
Ana Grajeda:
Thank you for Great Job congrats for the baby01:00:45
Lila Szozda:
Thank you. Very informative information.01:00:57
Colleen Robinson:
THANK YOU to all of you-it's been a wonderful resource and a life raft of guidance for all of us-THANK YOU!01:01:14
Patty Barber:
Thank you :)01:02:25
terra carlson:
So grateful to the LunchAssist team for all the guidance, hand-holding and tireless effort this past year. Thank you!!!01:02:28
Irene Vargas:
Thank you everyone for all your hard work and keeping us all up to date. These calls have made me feel that we can all get though these unusual times together!!01:03:05
Ana Grajeda:
Thank you for the Amazing work to ALL huge hug01:03:14
Ana Grajeda:
at a distance01:03:15
Stephanie Bruce:
Thanks to all of you. Especially Jenn who has gotten up in the middle of the night to be on these calls!!!!01:03:48
Paloma Perez Bertrand I LunchAssist:
:**) little tear. Thank you everyone!01:03:49
Brendan Shields:
Thank you Lunch Assist!!!01:03:50
Suzanne Lugotoff:
Nicely done Lunch Assist team!01:03:51
Karen Luna:
You have been such a huge support during this Pandemic! Thank you, thank you, thank you01:03:54
patricia bishop:
will you continue to have webinars next year/01:04:18
Kat Soltanmorad:
thank you! LunchAssist is outstanding!01:04:20
Amanda Mascia:
Thank you, ladies! So appreciative of your work and this community!01:04:20
Michelle Hernandez:
Will you be doing this next year??01:04:25
Michelle Hernandez:
Please! lol01:04:27
Stephanie Bruce:
WE wouldn't have been able to remain sane this past year without your hard work, research, support and guidance. Thank you just doesn't quite express our complete gratitude01:04:47
MAUREEN Pisanick:
Epic year and great silver lining.... Pisanick team loves our Lunch Assist family ❤️01:05:49
Emma Finn:
Woohoo!01:06:15
Emily Cena:
Thank you so much! Such a supportive group this has been01:07:11
Jen McNeil I LunchAssist:
Wow that sounds great!01:07:34
Marielena Covarrubias:
Thank you for all the trainings and support for our Food Service Staff. You are a great Team and amazing people and we are glad to be working with you.01:07:44
Frances Montoya:
Thank you All! Your hard work was such a benefit to us all! Without you I would not have been able to be as successful in feeding the students and community. Ps Lola was the best bonus of the Pandemic! Congrats Mama!01:07:45
Ana Grajeda:
Gracias a todos01:07:57
Colleen Robinson:
Please continue these next year-we need and look forward to these updates-thank you!01:07:58
Irene Vargas:
I can't wait...This is so awesome!!01:08:01
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
https://www.lunchassist.org/blog01:08:07
Paloma Perez Bertrand I LunchAssist:
Gracias Ana!01:08:47
Anna Apoian:
What a wonderful resource you have been to so many. Thanks for your organization and communication. I wish you continued luck with your growing business.01:09:00
Irene Vargas:
Thank you to everyone!!.;)01:09:04
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
LunchAssist Blog: https://www.lunchassist.org/blog01:09:10
Jen McNeil I LunchAssist:
^bonus baby cute baby pic ;)01:09:42
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
LunchAssist Community Newsletter: https://www.lunchassist.org/join01:09:49
Dylan Hatami:
Thank you for everything!!01:09:55
Bethany Markee:
Lunch Assist TOTALLY rocks. Thank you for your amazing & continued support. You guys are hero's too :)01:10:11
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
LunchAssist Community Calls: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcuqhpzwsHNU0KhzjVciITuEQNOxd9PsK01:10:16
Tara Thatcher:
You all are amazing! Thank you for your resources :)01:10:50
Susan Dalandan:
Wow - she is so cute!!!!01:10:56
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
LunchAssist PRO: www.lunchassist.org/join01:11:00
Irene Vargas:
This is great...Lunch Assist rocks!!01:11:30
Frances Montoya:
LOLA is the cutest baby!01:11:30
Laura Benitez | Center for Ecoliteracy:
LunchAssist AR Boot Camp: www.lunchassist.org/ARBootCamp01:13:25
Stephanie Bruce:
LOW registration numbers01:14:11
Chef B. Markee-Orcutt USD:
California (SB county) is high, but we are offering full day kindergarten starting this fall.....01:15:02
DEBBIE AUSTIN:
When do you anticipate the reimbursement rate to be posted for the new fiscal year?01:16:44
Stephanie Bruce:
Last year they weren't published until July01:16:50
Michael Jochner:
USDA: We'll clear that up.
Me: HAHAHAHA01:17:13
Stephanie Bruce:
Good one Michael!!! LOL01:17:19
Amanda Mascia:
Sharing as FYI: Our county office of education (San Diego) is advising/requesting school nutrition to be prepared to continue offering 7 days' worth of meals during SY21/22 because they are expecting the continuation and expansion of quarantines for close contacts, exposures and children that are symptomatic or test positive.01:17:45
Jen McNeil I LunchAssist:
Susan Dalandan: Does CA do direct enrollment for SNAP and other benefits? This is the most important reason to collect f/r meal applications. Second important reason is for establishing basis for community eligibility.01:18:43
Vivien Watts:
My district will use AIF instead of applicaton. However, families need a letter to get P-EBT. Is there a sample letter?01:18:47
Michelle Hernandez:
Do you all have an resources for the new P-EBT? Marketing material01:19:00
Charlie Hoffs:
But it doesn’t go the other way, FRPM does not automatically enroll students for SNAP, if that was also part of the question:)01:19:15
Susan Dalandan:
That's good. PA uses F/R meal applications the other direction - making sure families get SNAP, and other benefits if they are.01:19:23
Stephanie Bruce:
Dept of SS website has materials01:19:24
Michelle Hernandez:
Something to go out to parents01:19:45
Charlie Hoffs:
That’s amazing! @Susan01:19:52
Amanda Mascia:
CAlifornia is just getting ready to launch our P-EBT materials01:19:57
Amanda Mascia:
website: 6/2401:19:57
Michelle Hernandez:
So many questions but I can’t find notifications Q&A for parents01:20:28
Michelle Hernandez:
Yes!01:20:29
Susan Dalandan:
The Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council has PEBT resources available that you could modify01:20:47
Michelle Hernandez:
Thanks :)01:20:50
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Thanks, Susan!01:21:55
Susan Dalandan:
Too early for some awesome CA wine???? lol01:22:01
Amanda Mascia:
Gotta scoot to the next zoom! You ladies ROCK!!!!01:22:19
Nancy Whalen:
Thank you, all! Have a great summer!01:22:24
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Haha, love it Susan!01:22:33
Michelle Hernandez:
:D01:22:38
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Or mimosa...01:22:39
Ana Grajeda:
Have a Great Summer :)01:22:42
Christina Cazares:
Thank you!01:22:48
Kristina Jieun Kim:
Thank you so much!01:22:49
Susan Dalandan:
Thank you for all of you! You have been an inspiration for our newly launched Food Pantry Community of Practice!01:22:55
Deirdre Kleske:
Thank you!01:23:05
Irene Vargas:
Have a great summer everyone!01:23:13
Gelene Coelho:
Susan, it's never too early for California Wine especially from Paso Robles!01:23:16
Michelle Hernandez:
Yes! This would be awesome!01:23:21
Cynthia Hernandez:
Thank you & continued health blessings!01:23:28
Renata Cauchon-Robles:
We have worked with your Superintendent’s office to create a cover letter for the F/R application01:23:31
Renata Cauchon-Robles:
our*01:23:37
National Director Marion Williams Wellness in school:
This has been a great value to us01:23:47
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Cover letter is a great idea01:23:52
Susan Dalandan:
I haven't tried Paso Robles, so I will have to look for that! I like Twisted Oakk and Newsome-Harlowe!01:24:19
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
You guys are making me thirsty!01:24:21
Michael Jochner:
Go Arnold/Murphy wines...01:24:37
Yanelly Alonso:
That would be great!01:24:42
Michelle Hernandez:
Got to Solvang Susan :)01:24:44
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Any recommendations for wineries in the Placerville area?01:24:52
Michelle Hernandez:
Im around the corner haha01:25:06
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Clearly we’re all ready for summer01:25:52
Michelle Hernandez:
Mickenzie drive to Santa Barbara county… its worth the drive lol01:26:05
Vikeshni Diyal:
Titan has it figured out.01:26:12
Vikeshni Diyal:
I used them last year.01:26:24
Vikeshni Diyal:
It is Image One and Titan together.01:26:31
Susan Dalandan:
Thank you everyone!01:26:37
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Thanks, Michelle! I will!01:26:39
Michelle Hernandez:
Cheers! Have a wonderful summer!01:26:47
Tara Thatcher:
If anyone has issues with IW cut orders, Darlington has your back01:26:53
National Director Marion Williams Wellness in school:
Thank you have a great summer..01:26:53
CATHY MOURA:
MySchool Apps (online apps) revamped my FR application for last year and hoping they can do something for this year01:28:12
Stephanie Bruce:
Have a great summer ladies. Jenn, have a great winter!! See you all soon01:28:36
Mickinzie Lopez | LunchAssist:
Thanks everyone! <301:28:45
Tara Thatcher:
"it's been real" - fav quote of the year! :)01:28:52
DEBBIE AUSTIN:
When will we get the higher reimbursement for sso01:28:57
Irene Vargas:
Yes, see you later. Take care everyone!01:29:05
DEBBIE AUSTIN:
Thank you!01:29:08
Jen McNeil I LunchAssist:
@Debbie - should be on the first day of SY 21-2201:29:13
Jen McNeil I LunchAssist:
But that is still being clarified0
