3542.41  - Food Services Personnel Professional Standards

3542.41  - Food Services Personnel Professional Standards

Business/Non-Instructional Operations

Food Service

School Lunch Service

Professional Standards for Food Service Personnel

The Board of Education (Board) recognizes that students require adequate, nourishing food and beverages in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. Therefore, the Board provides a food service program for 181 school breakfasts; 181 school lunches that meet the dietary specifications in accordance with the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, as periodically amended, and applicable state laws and regulations.

This service shall be managed by the Food Services Director who shall be responsible to the Director of Finance and Operations. The Food Services Director shall be hired under specific job specifications and approved by the Board.

The Board shall comply with the minimum professional standards for school nutrition personnel who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs which are contained in the regulations to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), Public Law 111-296. These regulations, effective July 1, 2015, as amended, effective April 30, 2019, establish hiring standards for the selection of State and local school nutrition program directors, and requires all personnel in the school nutrition programs to complete annual continuing education/training.

The Board believes that the fulfillment of these professional standards for food service personnel will result in consistent, national professional standards that strengthen the ability of school nutrition professionals and staff to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. Requiring proper qualifications to serve in the District's Child Nutrition Programs is expected to improve the quality of school meals, reduce errors, and enhance Program integrity.

Flexibility for districts with 2,499 students or less, subject to the prior approval of the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), allows such districts to accept food service experience as a substitute for school nutrition experience when hiring new school nutrition program directors. This shall include volunteer or unpaid work as relevant food service experience.

(cf. 3542.31 - Participation in the Nutritional School Lunch Program)
(cf. 3542.33 - Food Sales Other Than National School Lunch Program)
(cf. 3542.34 - Nutrition Program)
(cf. 3542.43 - Charging Policy)
(cf. 6142.101 - Student Nutrition and Physical Wellness, School Wellness)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and other feeding programs for public school children and employees.

10-215a Nonpublic school and nonprofit agency participation in feeding programs.

10-215b Duties of State Board of Education re feeding programs.

10-216 Payment of expenses.

10-217 State Board of Education Regulations.

10-215b-1 School lunch and nutrition programs.

10-215b-11 Requirement for meals.

10-215b-12 Reimbursement payments. (including free and reduced price meals)

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, 42 U.S.C. Section 1751.

School Lunch and Breakfast Programs 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq.

National Food Service Programs, Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR Part 210, Part 220, Part 215, Part 245.

42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(h)/7 CFR Sect 210.13, 220.7 (School Food Safety Inspections).

Federal Register (74 Fed. Reg. 66213) amending federal regulations (7CFR Part 210 and 220).

Federal Register (80 Fed No 40) Professional Standards for State and Local Nutrition Programs Personnel as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, as amended effective 4/30/19.

P.L. 111-296 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), 42 U.S.C. 1751.

7 CFR Parts 210 & 220 - Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch & School Breakfast Programs.

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance, 7 C.F.R. Part 15b (2001).

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Final Rule 84 FR6953

Policy Adopted:  May 14, 2024