Urgent: Share Your Comments with USDA on Proposed School Meal Rule
Act now! Today is the last day to  submit your comments  to USDA regarding the   proposed rule   to simplify meal service and monitoring requirements for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). Submit your comment and make sure your voice is heard!

SNA President Thanks Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
This week we recognize all our amazing volunteers for their hard work and commitment to the SNA community! SNA President Gay Anderson, SNS, shares  a heartfelt thank you in this video .

School Nutrition Foundation Announces the 2020 Professional Development Scholarship Winners 
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) will be providing over 20 professional development scholarships for SY2020-21. 
Resources include  USDA Q&A policy memos  to provide clarification on meal service requirements and a Find Meals for Kids interactive map as well as  CDC interim guidance for implementing safety practices .

Federal updates on  restoring school meal flexibilities  and USDA waivers, as well as information on  state-by-state waivers  and an interactive map on each state’s COVID-19 legislation.

Helpful resources from Action for Healthy Kits, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), Share our Strength/No Kid Hungry, the School Nutrition Foundation and others.

More free tools and resources from 25 of our industry partners have been added this week to help foodservice operators navigate the new reality of emergency feeding operations.
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The number of days remaining until School Lunch Hero Day on May 1! Download official, free artwork to share on social media from the School Lunch Hero Day website—and be sure to share photos and videos of your day of celebration with SNA! Learn more at  www.schoolnutrition.org/slhd .
Tomorrow: Rewind & Repeat: Science-Based Basics to Food Safety – Part ll
Join us for another round of food safety basics with experts Kevin Sauer, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, and Kevin Roberts, PhD, with the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs at Kansas State University. Part two of this series will provide you with findings and applications for food cooling, handwashing and managing common-sense behaviors. Register   today for these tips and best practices.

Now Available on Demand: Rewind & Repeat: Science-Based Basics to Food Safety – Part l
Head over to the Training Zone if you missed  part one of our food safety   basics with experts Kevin Sauer, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, and Kevin Roberts, PhD, with the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs at Kansas State University. Rewind and refresh yourself with information on food cooling, handwashing and more just in time for part two of this discussion.
Five easy no- or low-cost ways to celebrate the big day on Friday, May 1!

  1. Download the official artwork to share on social media.
  2. Give the gift of an SNA membership to a team member.
  3. Share this video from “Lunch Lady” creator Jarrett J. Krosoczka to promote School Nutrition Foundation’s GoFundMe campaign in support of school nutrition professionals.
  4. Decorate with School Lunch Hero Day balloons from the SNA Emporium for a festive touch at your emergency feeding sites and encourage your staff to dress up as superheroes.
  5. Order School Lunch Hero Day pencils to give out to kids, buttons for staff and stickers to decorate your grab 'n’ go items from the SNA Emporium!
SNA Advocacy Feedback Forms
SNA appreciates you reaching out and sharing your challenges. In order to inform our advocacy efforts on your behalf, we are providing these  advocacy feedback forms .

SNA and United Fresh Partner to Assist Schools with Produce Needs
SNA and the United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA) have  partnered  to connect produce distributors to school foodservice authorities requesting single-serve, individually wrapped produce as part of their COVID-19 meal distributions.

Federal Court Rules on School Meal Flexibility Suit
On April 13th, the federal district court in Maryland ruled in a lawsuit challenging USDA’s 2018 Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements. Read more in SNA’s  press release .

SNA Urges USDA to Restore School Meal Flexibilities  
In a letter to USDA, SNA emphasized the Court’s findings that the Final Rule was “not inconsistent” with federal statute and that “USDA used its expertise to balance the nutrition science in the Dietary Guidelines with the practical considerations of implementation.” Read more in SNA’s  press release .
SNA continues to monitor the pandemic situation very closely and is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Gaylord Opryland Resort concerning the effect of the pandemic on the ability to host the  Annual National Conference  in July and SNA's contractual obligations. The safety of our members, attendees, exhibitors, participants and staff is our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this unprecedented and unpredictable time and will continue to keep members, exhibitors and speakers updated.
SN’s COVID-19 Coverage Continues Online 
As schools remain closed for the remainder of the academic year and as districts also begin to contemplate the typical end of meal service over the summer months, School Nutrition will continue to support readers with bonus digital content between print edition mailings. Read our April expanded digital edition  here