School Food Service
OUR MISSION
To enhance each student's ability to learn by providing nutritionally sound, appealing and tasty meals. To educate the community and its students (with TLC) about the healthy choices that Nutrition Services provides. To become recognized as a part of the educational day within Ben Hill County School District
School Nutrition Resources
- School Menus
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
- Offer vs Serve Program
- Wellness Program
- USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
School Menus
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH/SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS
By participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and eliminating the need for meal applications, Ben Hill County will reduce administrative and printing costs. Families also benefit from the elimination of completing and submitting meal applications.
Children need healthy meals to learn. Ben Hill County offers healthy meals every school day at no charge to your child(ren). Our food service receives support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
The following schools will be participating in this alternative provision and provide meals at no charge to children:
Ben Hill Preschool, Ben Hill Primary, Ben Hill Elementary, Ben Hill Middle School
Fitzgerald High School College & Career Academy
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Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
WHAT IS CEP?
The Community Eligibility Provision is a four-year reimbursement option for eligible, high poverty, local education agencies and schools. Under this provision, a local educational agency may participate for all schools in the local educational agency or only for some schools. Participating local educational agencies must offer free breakfast and lunches for four successive years to all children attending participating schools and receive meal reimbursement based on claiming percentages.
Section 104(a) of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Act) amended section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide an alternative that eliminates the need for household applications for free and reduced-price meals in high-poverty LEAs and schools. This alternative, which is now part of the NSLP, is referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision (Community Eligibility).
To be eligible, LEAs and/or schools must meet a minimum level of “identified students” for free meals in the year prior to implementing Community Eligibility; agree to serve free breakfasts and lunches to all students; and agree to cover with non-Federal funds any costs of providing free meals to students above the amounts provided by Federal assistance. Reimbursement for each LEA or school is based on claiming percentages derived from the percentage of identified students, i.e., students certified for free meals through means other than individual household applications. The claiming percentages established in the first year for an LEA or school may be used for four school years and may be increased if the percentage of identified students rises for the LEA or school.
- Eligibility is based on the percentage of identified students enrolled
- Identified students are those who participate in SNAP,TANF, OR FDPIR.
- Homeless, runaway, migrant, or foster children.
- The identified student percentage must be 40% for the entity to participate.
Offer vs Serve Program
OFFER VS SERVE PROGRAM
For this school year, the School Nutrition Program will be implementing a procedure for serving breakfast and lunch. This procedure is called "Offer vs Serve" and it empowers all students to choose the food items they wish to eat.
There are five components on each Menu; of these five components students are now able to choose three. The main entree (meat. grain, or vegetable) will be served to every student. Students will then be allowed to choose among the vegetables, fruit. bread, and milk their remaining items. Students will be required to choose at least 2 items; however all items can be chosen if desired. Also, milk will now be a choice and not required for a reimbursable meal.
Implementing this new procedure will save on food waste and cost; while empowering students. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this transition period.
Sincerely,
Martha Dixon
Ben Hill County School Nutrition Director
Wellness Program
Wellness Program Policy
The Ben Hill County Board of Education recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to students' well-being, growth, development, and readiness to learn. The Board is committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.
Development of Local Wellness Policy:
In accordance with the federal law, the Ben Hill County District has involved parents, students, representatives of food services, the Board, school administrators and the public in developing a district-wide wellness policy. After considering input from various stakeholders interested in the promotion of overall student health and well being, the Board establishes these policy goals to promote student wellness.
The following measurable and obtainable goals have been established:
- The Child Nutrition program shall comply with federal, state and local requirements and shall be accessible to all children.
- Sequential and interdisciplinary nutrition education shall be provided and promoted.
- Patterns of meaningful physical activity shall be connected to students' lives outside of physical education.
- All school-based activities shall be consistent with local wellness policy goals.
- All food and beverages served and/or sold on campus during the school day shall be consistent with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- All foods made available on campus shall adhere to food safety and security guidelines.
- The school environment shall be safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allow ample time and space for eating meals.
The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the wellness policy and is authorized to develop procedures for evaluation, including indicators that may be used to measure the schools' success in meeting the goals set forth herein. In each school, the principal or designee shall be charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that the school works toward meeting the wellness goals and shall report to the Superintendent or designee.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Ben Hill County School Nutrition Program Is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Market Conditions, Delivery, Availability of Food, and Special Food Activities May Require Changes in Menus on Very Short Notice at Individual Schools.
USDA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
In Accordance with Federal Civil Rights Law and U.s. Department of Agriculture (Usda) Civil Rights Regulations and Policies, This Institution Is Prohibited from Discriminating on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex (Including Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation), Disability, Age, or Reprisal or Retaliation for Prior Civil Rights Activity.
Program Information May Be Made Available in Languages Other than English. Persons with Disabilities Who Require Alternative Means of Communication to Obtain Program Information (E.g., Braille, Large Print, Audiotape, American Sign Language), Should Contact the Responsible State or Local Agency That Administers the Program or Usda’s Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice and Tty) or Contact Usda Through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To File a Program Discrimination Complaint, a Complainant Should Complete a Form Ad-3027, Usda Program Discrimination Complaint Form Which Can Be Obtained Online at: Https://Www.usda.gov/Sites/Default/Files/Documents/Usda-oascr%20p-complaint-form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17fax2mail.pdf, from Any Usda Office, by Calling (866) 632-9992, or by Writing a Letter Addressed to Usda. the Letter Must Contain the Complainant’s Name, Address, Telephone Number, and a Written Description of the Alleged Discriminatory Action in Sufficient Detail to Inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (Ascr) About the Nature and Date of an Alleged Civil Rights Violation. the Completed Ad-3027 Form or Letter Must Be Submitted to Usda by:
This Institution Is an Equal Opportunity Provider.
05/05/2022
PARA TODOS LOS DEMÁS PROGRAMAS DE ASISTENCIA DE NUTRICIÓN DEL FNS, AGENCIAS ESTATALES O LOCALES Y SUS SUBRECEPTORES, DEBEN PUBLICAR LA SIGUIENTE DECLARACIÓN DE NO DISCRIMINACIÓN:
De Acuerdo Con La Ley Federal De Derechos Civiles Y Las Normas Y Políticas De Derechos Civiles Del Departamento De Agricultura De Los Estados Unidos (Usda), Esta Entidad Está Prohibida De Discriminar Por Motivos De Raza, Color, Origen Nacional, Sexo (Incluyendo Identidad De Género Y Orientación Sexual), Discapacidad, Edad, O Represalia O Retorsión Por Actividades Previas De Derechos Civiles.
La Información Sobre El Programa Puede Estar Disponible en Otros Idiomas Que No Sean El Inglés. Las Personas Con Discapacidades Que Requieren Medios Alternos De Comunicación Para Obtener La Información Del Programa (Por Ejemplo, Braille, Letra Grande, Cinta De Audio, Lenguaje De Señas Americano (Asl), Etc.) Deben Comunicarse Con La Agencia Local O Estatal Responsable De Administrar El Programa O Con El Centro Target Del Usda Al (202) 720-2600 (Voz Y Tty) O Comuníquese Con El Usda a Través Del Servicio Federal De Retransmisión Al (800) 877-8339.
Para Presentar Una Queja Por Discriminación en El Programa, El Reclamante Debe Llenar Un Formulario Ad-3027, Formulario De Queja Por Discriminación en El Programa Del Usda, El Cual Puede Obtenerse en Línea en: Https://Www.fns.usda.gov/Sites/Default/Files/Resource-files/Usda-program-discrimination-complaint-form-spanish.pdf, De Cualquier Oficina De Usda, Llamando Al (866) 632-9992, O Escribiendo Una Carta Dirigida a Usda. La Carta Debe Contener El Nombre Del Demandante, La Dirección, El Número De Teléfono Y Una Descripción Escrita De La Acción Discriminatoria Alegada Con Suficiente Detalle Para Informar Al Subsecretario De Derechos Civiles (Ascr) Sobre La Naturaleza Y Fecha De Una Presunta Violación De Derechos Civiles. El Formulario Ad-3027 Completado O La Carta Debe Presentarse a Usda Por:
(1)Correo:
U.s. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, Sw
Washington, D.c. 20250-9410; or
(2)Fax:
(833)256-1665 O (202) 690-7442; O
(3)Correo Electrónico:
Program.intake@usda.gov
Esta Entidad Es Un Proveedor Que Brinda Igualdad De Oportunidades.
- Mail:
U.s. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, Sw
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - Email:
program.intake@usda.gov