Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
We are pleased to announce for the 2023-2024 school year, we will be implementing the CEP program at many of our area schools. This program allows all students at these schools to participate in the breakfast and lunch program free of charge, without having to apply for free or reduced lunches.
Schools participating in the 2023-2024 school year include:
Emmeline Cook Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, Merrill Elementary, Oaklawn Elementary, Read Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Shapiro STEM Academy, Washington Elementary, Webster Stanley Elementary, ALPS Charter School, South Park Middle School, Tipler Middle School, Vel Phillips Middle School, North High School and West High School
Please note that while a free and reduced meal application is not necessary to participate in the free meals offered at these schools, the district still requires the application be filled out to determine if a household is eligible for other programs and benefits.
Important Weather Notice
When inclement weather forces the closing of schools, the menu is affected. Normally the menu entrees are "pushed ahead" one day resulting in one menu entree being eliminated.
Employment Opportunities
All open positions are posted to the Wisconsin Education Career Access Network (WECAN).
Click here to create an account and view open positions.
Offer Vs Serve
Offer versus Serve or OVS is a concept that applies to menu planning and to the determination of reimbursable school meals. OVS allows students to decline some of the meal components offered at breakfast and lunch. The goal is to reduce plate waste and also to allow students to make choices they prefer. At breakfast, students must select a minimum of 3 different meal components and at lunch, students must select 3 of the 5 offered meal components. At lunch, 1 of the 3 must be a fruit or vegetable.
Smart Snacks in Schools
Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, USDA regulations require that all foods and beverages sold on the school campus* during the school day** comply with the Federal nutrition standards. This includes foods and beverages sold in the school breakfast and lunch programs, a la carte, in school stores, snack bars and vending machines as well as food produced during culinary classes that is sold to students.
A key component of the Smart Snacks in Schools regulation is fundraising. The new guidelines for fundraising are as follows:
- Schools may conduct any number of fundraisers during the school day if the items sold meet nutrition standards.
- Fundraisers that occur outside of the school day need not adhere to the nutrition standards.
- The standards do allow for a special exemption for infrequent fundraisers that do not meet the nutrition standards. Currently, School Principals are determining “infrequent”. This fall, the Student Wellness Committee will reconvene and review the latest guidance regarding “infrequent”.
- Foods sold on the school campus that cannot be consumed onsite are exempt from this rule (e.g. frozen pizza fundraisers).
There are several successful fundraisers that are unrelated to food or are embracing the idea of providing access to only healthy food. Gift card sales, trash bag sales, garage sales, hosting a community race/walk, school dance, teacher student competitions, and recycling drives have all proved to be profitable for schools in the past. Many more ideas and resources can be found on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation website https://www.healthiergeneration.org/take_action/schools/snacks_and_beverages/fundraisers/.
Schools play an important role in providing access to healthy food and to limit conflicting messages regarding healthy habits. This transition will definitely take time. However, as it is our responsibility to provide education about academic topics in schools as well as recognizing the importance of motivating and supporting students to as they develop the priceless skill of healthy eating.
*The school campus includes all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day.
**The school day is defined as the time period from midnight before through 30 minutes after the end of the official day.
Related Links:
Smart Snacks in Schools (USDA Brochure)
District Student Wellness Policy 341.5, Rule
District Standards
Student Wellness Policy
In 2010, the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act was passed. It included new provisions that place a greater emphasis on the implementation, evaluation, and transparency of local wellness policies in schools with the National School Lunch Program. These provisions are:
- Include goals for nutrition education and promotion, physical activity, and other school-based activities to promote student wellness.
- Include nutrition guidelines for all foods available on school campus.
- Permit parents, students, representatives of the School Food Authority, the school board, school administrators, physical education teachers, school health professionals and the public to participate in the development, implementation, review, and update of the Student Wellness Policy.
- Inform and update the public about the Student Wellness Policy’s content and implementation.
- Measure and make available to the public an assessment on the extent to which schools are in compliance with the Student Wellness Policy and a description of the progress made in attaining goals of the Student Wellness Policy.
- Designate one or more school officials to ensure that each school complies with the Student Wellness Policy.
For more information regarding Local Wellness Policies go to: http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/local-wellness-policy-resources/school-nutrition-environment-and-wellness-resources-0
The Oshkosh Area School District's Student Wellness Committee meets on a regular basis to discuss student wellness updates. Most recently, the committee recommended a revision to Student Wellness Policy 341.5, Exhibit A District Nutrition Standards, and Rule 341.5 Student Nutrition.
The committee is committed to meeting the nutrition goals of the schools and the community. Members have the ability to develop, review, update, and implement the policy. New members are always appreciated. The be a part of this committee, please contact the Food Service Office at 920-424-4936 or please reach out to the Director of Food Services Michele Stahmann at Michele.stahmann@oshkosh.k12.wi.us.
Non-discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
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mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
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fax: (202) 690-7442; or
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email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Any questions regarding the application should be directed to the determining official
