RENEWAL OF AGREEMENT:
Enclosed are two sets of the Renewal of the Agreement between the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the School Food Authority (SFA). This agreement must be completed to participate in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Snack Program and/or the Special Milk Program for the regular school term and/or the summer sessions of the 2003-2004 school year. Please complete the Renewal of Agreement, indicating the programs you plan to continue operating, dates of operation, and any new programs you plan to implement.
{Reminder, Act 826 of 1991 requires all schools with 20% or more of the students eligible for free and reduced price meals during the preceding school year, to provide students with a school breakfast program.}
The individual district Schedule A is enclosed. Please make corrections and additions to Schedule A to reflect the correct information for the 2003-2004 school year. The agreement cannot be approved without the enclosed INDIVIDUALIZED Schedule A mailed to each district in this packet.
DO NOT SUBMIT THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE SCHEDULE A that was sent to the district.
RENEWAL OF POLICY STATEMENT FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS:
Enclosed are two copies of the Renewal of the Policy Statement for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2003-2004 school year and one set of the Free and Reduced Price Meal Application Packet. Complete, sign and return BOTH copies of the Renewal of Policy Statement for Free and Reduced Price Meals 2003-2004 School Year. Please read the Policy Statement and Free and Reduced Price Meals Application Packet carefully. The Free and Reduced Price Meals Packet Forms should not be returned with the Policy Statement unless changes have been made. Send two copies of any changed forms from the packet with the two signed copies of the Renewal of the Policy Statement.
DEADLINE:
Complete and return both copies of the Renewal of Agreement and Schedule A along with both copies of the Renewal of Policy Statement for Free and Reduced Price Meals by May 15. Please DO NOT HOLD for a new superintendent’s signature and/or meal prices. The Agreement and Policy Statement can be updated at anytime during the school year with a letter from the superintendent. Mail to:
Child Nutrition Unit, ADE
2020 West Third Street, Suite 404
Little Rock, AR 72205-4465
A Renewal of Agreement, Schedule A, and Policy Statement will be returned to the Food Service Authority after it has been approved and signed.
FORMS:
The Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application and Verification forms can be printed from the Internet and modified to include school district information.
ELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERE NEED BREAKFAST REIMBURSEMENT:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides additional reimbursement for the School Breakfast Program for individual schools that meet the following criteria:
1. The reimbursement rates under the regular breakfast program are
insufficient to cover the cost of the program.
2. The school is currently participating in or desiring to initiate
the breakfast program.
3. Forty percent (40%) or more of the lunches served to students at
the school in the second preceding school year (2001-2002) were
served free or at a reduced price. (Records of meals served by
category must be maintained by the school. Eligibility cannot
be determined based on combined records of two schools served in
the same site.)
Applications for Severe Need Reimbursement for the School Breakfast Program for the 2003-2004 school year will be mailed to those schools approved last year. If one or more schools will be eligible, you may contact Jimmy Burks at (501) 324-9502 for an application. Please remember that reports verifying breakfast meal costs are required. If reports verify that the full severe need reimbursement rate was not needed to cover costs, the unused funds must be returned.
AFTERSCHOOL SNACK PROGRAM:
Reimbursement is available for after school snacks served to students who are 18 years old or under and participate in a program to provide after school care. If one or more of the schools in the district plan to have after school programs and would like to provide snacks, complete the attached Schedule A SY 2003-04 for Afterschool Snack Programs. REMEMBER, NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE AFTERSCHOOL SNACK PROGRAM CAN BE PAID UNLESS THE AFTERSCHOOL SNACK PROGRAM SCHEDULE A IS COMPLETED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE PROGRAM. See Agreement 2001-02 School Year Between School Food Authority and Arkansas Department of Education (the Agreement) page 5 for specific program requirements.
SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM:
The Special Milk Program is available for students who do not have access to lunch, breakfast, or afterschool snacks. If your district is interested in this program, please contact Barbara Smith at (501) 324-9502.
SCHOOL MEAL INITIATIVE (SMI):
The Three Steps to Healthy School Meals was developed to assist districts in meeting the USDA nutritional goals. Please check the appropriate box by each school on Schedule A if this resource is being used to plan menus. This will assist the Child Nutrition Unit in monitoring and soliciting grant funds to update these materials.
SEAMLESS SUMMER PROGRAM:
The Seamless Summer Program should be available for the summer of 2004. This program makes it possible to serve up to two (2) meals per day (breakfast, lunch, morning snack, afternoon snack and/or supper) free to students participating in summer programs, other than regular summer school. To participate in the program during the summer of 2004 complete the Seamless Summer Feeding Waiver Request FY 2004 and Schedule A-Seamless Summer Food Service Program (SSFP) Funded through the Arkansas Department of Education at least two (2) weeks prior to the start of the program. Remember all sites requesting a Seamless Summer Feeding Waiver will be checked with the Special Nutrition Program, Arkansas Department of Human Services to eliminate duplication of effort.