U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue participates with the school lunch, and holds a roundtable discussion with school nutrition professionals at North East Independent School District’s Castle Hill Elementary, in San Antonio, TX, on Jan 17, 2020. The tour was led by Student Lighthouse Team Member student Alessandra Fuini.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced two proposals today that will put local school and summer food service operators back in the driver’s seat of their programs, because they know their children best. Under the school meals proposed rule, school nutrition professionals have more flexibility to serve appetizing and healthy meals that appeal to their students’ preferences and subsequently reduce food waste. The proposed rule also encourages state and local operators to focus resources on feeding children rather than administrative paperwork. These improvements build on the 2018 reforms that preserve strong nutrition standards while providing schools the additional flexibilities they need to best serve America's students. For more, see usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/01/17/usda-announces-school-and-summer-meals-reforms

USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is customer-focused and responsive to our state and local partners. USDA’s relationships with schools and food service professionals has fostered a better understanding of what’s working, and what can be improved together. They've told USDA that while the reforms to date have improved operations, additional changes are needed to better serve nutritious meals that children will actually eat. These new flexibilities deliver on customer feedback, aimed at ensuring that red tape doesn't get in the way of serving kids healthy meals.

Other governmental officials included Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and USDA FNS Regional Administrator William Ludwig and North East ISD Superintendent Dr. Sean Maika.

The FNS mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet and nutrition education in a way that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

Castle Hill is a certified Lighthouse School that utilizes Leader in Me (LiM) is an evidence-based, comprehensive-school improvement model. Lighthouse Certification is a standard set by FranklinCovey that is attainable by every Leader in Me school. As it is a significant benchmark, applying for this certification typically occurs four to five years after a school begins the Leader in Me process. FranklinCovey Education, a division of FranklinCovey, provides educational-leadership programs and transformational processes.

@USDA #schoolmeals #summermeals

USDA Photo By Lance Cheung.

For more information, please see: usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/01/17/usda-announces-school-and-summer-meals-reforms U.S. Department of Agriculture - usda.gov Food and Nutrition Service - fns.usda.gov