ADE Director's Communication Memo Form


Memo Number : IA-05-089

Date Created : 03/14/2005

Attention:

Superintendents
Co-op Directors
other: Principals and Food Service Directors

Type of Memo: Regulatory
Response Required: Optional
   
Section:   Internal Administration - Dr. Bobbie Davis
Subject:
Summer Meals 2005

Regulatory Authority:
7CFR Part 210, 225

Contact Person:
Barbara Smith

Phone Number:
501-324-9502

E-mail:
bsmith@arkedu.k12.ar.us

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Child Nutrition Unit (CNU) continues to offer two options for public schools to feed students after the regular school year ends.

Option 1. REGULAR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM is serving breakfast and lunch as a continuation of the regular school meal programs. Any of the child nutrition programs (breakfast, lunch, Afterschool snack, and special milk) may be served as part of the summer educational programs operated by the school district. With the regular summer meals program, the approved collection procedure must be used to collect money and count/claim the students by eligibility category. The regular summer meals program may be operated by any public school regardless of the percentage of children receiving free and reduced-price meals.

To continue the breakfast, lunch program and/or Afterschool snack programs, notify the CNU office of the dates these meal programs will be offered if this information WAS NOT listed on the Renewal of the Agreement for 2004-2005 School Year approved by CNU prior to July 2004.

Option 2. SEAMLESS SUMMER PROGRAM may be operated in a site or in the attendance area of a site with 50% or more of the students eligible for free and reduced price meals. ALL STUDENTS participating at an ADE Seamless summer program will EAT AT NO CHARGE regardless of income status and all meals will be claimed at the free reimbursement rate. In this program the district will serve one or two meals per student at no charge including: breakfast, lunch, snack or supper. However, the district will not claim both lunch and supper meals for a student at the same site on the same day. These sites do not require an education program, but summer school, remedial or regular education can be part of the ADE SEAMLESS Summer Program. For reimbursement rates see Comparison Chart Attachment #4. New Meal reimbursement rates will be effective as of July 1, 2005. Districts will be notified as soon as USDA announces these new rates.

To participate in the ADE SEAMLESS Summer Feeding Program, the School Food Authority/school district will be required to:

1. Submit a Waiver (See Attachment #1) signed by the Superintendent and District Child Nutrition Director. Be sure to review site definitions in order to indicate the type of site that will be operated on the Schedule A. Definitions are located in Item 3b of Attachment #1 – Waiver.
2. Submit a Schedule A Seamless Summer Program Addendum (See Attachment #2). List only sites where meals will be served.
3. Receive written approval from CNU, ADE BEFORE meals can be served or program can begin.
4. Mark the monthly claim for reimbursement with an “X” in the upper right hand corner next to "Seamless Summer".
5. REMEMBER that all meals must be counted and claimed at the “point of service” (that point when it can be determined that a reimbursable meal has been served to an eligible student.)

To assist school district Child Nutrition Directors in determining whether to participate in the ADE Summer Program, ADE SEAMLESS Summer Program or the Department of Human Services (DHS) Summer Program, see Attachment #3 - Summer Program Comparison Chart. ADE will check with DHS to prevent a duplication of summer feeding efforts within communities or geographic areas in the state. Preference will be given to summer feeding programs that have operated previously and plan to operate the summer of 2005.

DEADLINES:
Arkansas Department of Education
The ADE SEAMLESS Summer Program WAIVER DEADLINE is NO LATER THAN 2 WEEKS PRIOR to beginning the program. The Waiver must be approved by the Child Nutrition Unit BEFORE PROGRAM STARTS. If the district’s Renewal to the Agreement for School Year 2004-05 indicated the regular ADE Summer Program with established dates, there is no need to submit a notice for that program. TO CHANGE THE STATUS of a summer program previously reported on the agreement, please submit the waiver and include the site on the Schedule A for the SEAMLESS Summer Program.

Should there be any questions about ADE summer meal programs, please contact the assigned CNU, ADE, Area Specialist for the school district or Barbara Smith at 501-324-9502. For the district area specialist click on the county where the district is located at this hyperlink – http://cnn.k12.ar.us/General%20Information/mapbyAS.htm

Arkansas Department of Human Services
The deadline for the DHS Summer Feeding Program Applications is May 15, 2005. Deadline for application may be extended to June 15th if a letter of intent is sent to DHS by the May 15th deadline.

Should there be any questions regarding the DHS Summer Feeding Program please contact Harley Fancher at 870-743-2385 or Curtis Curry at 501-682-8870.

Attachments:

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