The Maine DOE is applying to be part of a pilot program that would enable local food service departments to utilize part of their USDA food entitlement funds (PAL) to purchase unprocessed products. Eight states will be selected for the pilot program nationwide and one from the northeast region.
Continue reading “Maine DOE applying for federal school nutrition pilot program”
The Department’s Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS) Helpdesk Team is partnering with the School Nutrition Team to provide joint training sessions throughout the state in August for Maine schools. Both Infinite Campus District Edition users and non-Infinite Campus system users are encouraged to attend.
The maximum price students can be charged for school lunch in School Year 2015 is $3 per lunch. Districts who wish to exceed this amount must complete a price waiver request form and submit it on behalf of their legal agent/superintendent to Maine DOE’s Office of Child Nutrition.
Continue reading “Student lunch prices set for 2015 school year”
The Maine DOE, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, is pleased to announce the fourth administration of the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) will be next February. Continue reading “Youth health survey to be administered next February”
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded 170 Maine schools $2,022,150 for distribution during the 2014-15 school year to provide fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost to students. The USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides funds to school districts where 50 percent or more of their student population in grades pre-k through eight are eligible for free and reduced price meals.
Continue reading “Maine DOE announces 2014-15 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program recipients”
Federal school nutrition standards adopted in 2010 will become effective on July 1. The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) requires that all foods sold on a school campus outside of the school meal program must meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards set forth in the interim final rule titled “National School Lunch Program (NLSP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP): Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as required by the HHFKA of 2010.”
Continue reading “School nutrition standards to become effective July 1”
Maine DOE Child Nutrition Program staff will be offering training sessions this summer to update local school unit nutrition program staff on federal and State improvements to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). A regional training schedule will be available in June and published in the Commissioner’s Update and on the Department’s professional development calendar.
Continue reading “Maine DOE to offer trainings on National School Lunch Program improvements”
Ron Adams, food service director for the Portland Public Schools, has won the School Nutrition Association (SNA) Outstanding Director of the Year Award for Maine. Adams will be honored at a red carpet awards ceremony in July at SNA’s national conference in Boston.
Continue reading “Portland food service director wins state award”
Maine schools are invited to attend the 29th Annual Maine DOE Schoolsite Health Promotion & Wellness Conference, to be held Tuesday, June 24 through Thursday, June 26 at Sugarloaf.
Continue reading “Schools invited to June wellness conference”
TURNER – Tripp Middle School is the first middle school in Maine to earn a Gold Medal in the US Department of Agriculture’s HealthierUS School Challenge.
Students and staff at the RSU 52 school were presented the prestigious award last week by USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon at an assembly also attended by Maine DOE’s Gail Lombardi.
Continue reading “Tripp Middle School wins top nutrition award”
Maine DOE Newsroom 