School Nutrition Guidelines
USDA National School Lunch Program Guidelines
Click here for guidelines to help you and your student understand exactly how this program works and will help to ensure that the meal your student chooses will be charged as free or reduced.
Offer Versus Serve Policy & Procedures
Offer Versus Serve or OVS applies to menu planning and meal service provided for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. The primary goals are to enhance student choice in selecting the foods they want to eat and to reduce food waste in Auburn Public Schools. The Offer Versus Serve Policy and Procedure also provided guidance on what constitutes a reimbursable breakfast and lunch. Click here to read more.
Wellness Policy for Auburn Public Schools
The School Committee recognizes the relationship between student well-being and student achievement as well as the importance of a comprehensive district wellness program designed to promote healthy behaviors and decision-making, and encourage lifelong behaviors of balanced nutrition, exercise, and emotional and physical well-being. The wellness program will be implemented in a multidisciplinary fashion and will be evidence based. Click here to learn more.
Our 2019 Wellness Policy Assessment - Updates will be added online here for Fall 2022!
Click here for Auburn School's scorecard. It contains details of how we scored on each item and section of the assessment. It also provides resources that will help us improve the district's school wellness policy.
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Allergies and Documentation
A food allergy is caused when the body’s immune system mistakes an ingredient in food – usually a protein – as harmful and creates a defense system (special compounds called antibodies) to fight it. An allergic reaction occurs when the antibodies are battling an “invading” food protein. Although a person could have an allergy to almost any food, the following foods account for almost 90 percent of all food-related allergic reactions:
Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree nuts (such as cashews and walnuts), Fish, Shellfish, Soy, Wheat, Sesame or other foods.
Auburn Public Schools Nutrition Department will work with you to make reasonable accommodations, which adhere to the guidelines set forth by the USDA and the National School Lunch Program. Worcester does not make meal accommodations based on personal preferences.
Before accommodations can be made, you must submit a medical statement from your child’s doctor to your school nurse. Each special dietary request must be supported by a statement, which explains the food substitution that is requested. A recognized medical authority must sign it. This must must be updated yearly.
The medical statement must include:
An identification of the medical or special dietary condition which restricts the child’s diet.
The food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet.
The food or foods to be substituted.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the alternative foods available for your child’s special dietary needs, please email the Food Service Director Brianne Pulver: bpulver@auburnk12.ma.us
What Are Reasonable Modifications to Accommodate Persons (Individuals) with Disabilities in CNPs?
The USDA nondiscrimination regulation (7 CFR 15b), as well as the regulations governing the CNPs, make it clear that substitutions to the regular meal must be made, at no extra cost, for children who are unable to eat meals served in any CNP because of their disabilities.
https://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/civilrights/2024-0611meal-modifications.html
Managing Life-Threatening Allergies in Schools
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How Can I File a CNP Civil Rights Complaint If I Feel One Has Occurred?
Any person or representative alleging discrimination, either written or verbal, based on a prohibited basis has the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action. Federal protected basis includes race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. An overview of current Massachusetts State protected classes.
If a CNP Sponsor receives a civil rights complaint at the local level it must be forwarded to the appropriate Office of Civil Rights (OCR) (FNS Headquarters, Regional, or State) for a determination on how the complaint will be handled. The appropriate OCR will prepare and issue letters of acknowledgment to the complainants.
For Food Service complaints please reach out to Brianne Pulver at bpulver@auburnk12.ma.us
/departments/food-services/files/documents/usda%20civil%20rights%20complaint%20form.pdf
Please follow the instructions below:
I
n 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: USDA Discrimination Complaint Form , 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:
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
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Allergies
We can post allergies on your child’s profile. Please provide the nurses at your school information about an allergy your student has. In order for us to consider this as a valid allergy we must have a doctor’s note stating the child has an allergy. We will only post valid allergies on your student account. We hope this helps provide a safe eating environment for your student and can relieve some of the stress parents feel about allergy situations at school.