Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 9/28/2017 - 6:30 PM
Category: Report of the Committee on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel
Type: Action
Subject: 7. Action on Resolution 1718R-004 by Directors Phillips and Voss Regarding School Nutrition Services
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
Policy: Admin Policy 4.07 - Student Nutrition and Wellness Policy
Attachments Phillips/Voss Resolution 1718R-004
File Attachment:
1718R-004 Phillips Voss - School nutrition menu.pdf
Background: On August 31, 2017, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors referred Resolution 1718R-004 by Director Phillips regarding School Nutrition Services (SNS).

The Administration requests that additional time be allowed to provide a formal response to this resolution. What is before you this evening is a brief description of programs, menu items, and similar items that are currently used or on schedule to be implemented this school year. We will take the feedback from this evening’s public testimony and use it as we prepare our formal response.

The Administration would like to share the following preliminary information and highlights related to the work of SNS on behalf of our students.

For our traditional breakfast, we currently offer a four-week menu cycle. It provides hot meals a minimum of twice per week. Students who are served breakfast in the classroom also receive a four-week menu cycle consisting of nine unique breakfast kits. Both menus provide students with one cup of fruit daily for breakfast.

SNS utilizes the “Offer-versus-Serve” option, which allows students to select a minimum of three of five meal components, in order to reduce food waste. Schools must offer students all five required components (meat, grain, vegetable, fruit, and milk), and one of the selections must be a ½-cup of fruit or vegetable.

By November 2017, SNS will offer fresh fruit at breakfast a minimum of two times per week in traditional breakfast and breakfast in the classroom. At lunch, we currently offer fresh fruits and vegetables a minimum of three times per week. In fact, most days, a fresh fruit or vegetable is served at lunch!

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is currently in 57 MPS elementary schools. Elementary school children are served a fresh fruit or fresh vegetable twice per week in the classroom, along with a nutrition lesson.

School Nutrition has also been participating in Farm-to-School initiatives. In this program, funds are used to procure local produce and dairy from Wisconsin farmers. Breads are also purchased from bakeries located within 250 miles of the district. This school year, we are proud to announce that we have teamed up with a local farmer and processor to provide MPS with broccoli buds.

For traditional cooking sites, we recently ordered a sturdier five-compartment tray that meets our eco-friendly and compostable standards. This tray is expected to arrive at MPS schools later this school year.

School Nutrition will continue to maintain public communication and post monthly menus, nutrition education resources, and student nutrition and wellness policies and procedures on the MPS SNS website. School Nutrition staff are available via email or phone to address public concerns. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to be active participants in their children’s Coordinated School Health & Wellness Team. We welcome parents to join their students for a school meal.

School-based taste-tests are conducted at a variety of schools throughout the school year to determine students’ preferences. The responses from students determine what products are placed on the menu.

Each school governs meal times and length of service based on its scheduled curriculum. In turn, SNS responds to the needs of individual schools. Each school is responsible for maintaining its school websites--where meal times can be posted.
Fiscal Impact Statement: n/a
Implementation and Assessment Plan
Recommendation: Your Committee recommends that the Board defer action on Resolution 1718R-004 until the November Board cycle, to allow the Administration additional time to conduct necessary analysis, especially as it relates to potential fiscal implications related to the resolution, with the understanding that we will listening sessions and get community input from all areas of the District.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer