2008 Legislative Policy Issues

With schools reaching over 95% of all children between ages of 5 and 17, SNA-WI recognizes the importance of striving for a healthy school environment.   This environment provides youth with the skills, role models, and support they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and achieve academic success.  Therefore, SNA-WI believes the following recommendations are in the best interest of our State’s children:

1. Adequately support the financial needs of Child Nutrition Programs.  SNA-WI believes that adequate financial support of child nutrition programs is essential.  Reimbursement rates have not kept up with food and labor costs, creating a negative fund balance for many programs.
   1. Breakfast Funding
      Appropriation should be sufficient to fully pay 15 cents for every breakfast meal served.
   2. Lunch Funding
      The State’s annual match (USDA mandate of 1981) is based on 30% of the federal funds received under Section 4 of the National School Lunch Act during the 1980-81 school year. The obligation in l981-82 was $4,173,162, and in 2007-08 is $4,159,693, ($13,469 decrease over 27 years.)  There is no consideration for inflation, and it is becoming very difficult for schools to afford more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains – the foods that would benefit our children the most.
   3. Wisconsin School Day Milk Program
      Appropriation should be sufficient to fully pay claims received without prorating.
      
2. Support Healthy School Environment Initiatives.  Agencies working for the health and well being of children must collectively address the policy and funding barriers that schools face in creating a healthy school environment.  A comprehensive plan, developed with the input from all agencies is essential for policy to be effective.   SNA-WI encourages policy makers to make children’s health a priority.
1. Support “Nutrition Standards”
   Support national nutrition standards proposed by the national School Nutrition Association to ensure standards are adopted based on scientific knowledge.
2. Promote Wellness Policies
   Link comprehensive, sequential nutrition education, quality child nutrition programs, and school environments that model healthy behaviors in food choices and physical activity.
3. Institute Adequate Mealtime for Children
   Adequate time is considered to be a minimum of 20 minutes (10 minutes for breakfast) from the time the last child receives a meal.  Legislative and regulatory changes are necessary to foster change and support this paradigm shift.
3. Support Skilled and Effective Management of Child Nutrition Programs.  Managing child nutrition programs is a complex task.  Policies that require schools to hire skilled school nutrition staff are essential for quality programs. 
1. Minimum Competencies
   School food authorities have the potential to manage eight (8) programs (national and/or state,) under one management position.  To assure the operation of cost-effective, high quality programs, minimum management competencies should be required.

For additional information regarding this or other Child Nutrition Program issues, please contact: