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Kansas review finds repeated meal‑counting and recipe problems in Northern Valley’s school nutrition program
Summary
A Kansas State Department of Education administrative review (Nov. 22, 2024) identified multiple repeat findings in Northern Valley USD 212’s School Nutrition Program, including meal‑counting/claiming discrepancies, verification errors, inadequate portions at breakfast for grades 5–8, and insufficient whole‑grain offerings; corrective actions and technical assistance were required.
A Kansas State Department of Education administrative review conducted Nov. 22, 2024 found a series of deficiencies in Northern Valley USD 212’s School Nutrition Program that require corrective action.
The review identified problems including missing signatures on reduced‑price eligibility approvals, verification calculation errors, and meal counting and claiming discrepancies. The report flags an underclaim of 845 free lunch meals at Almena Elementary for October 2024. It also notes repeat findings on standardized‑recipe use and whole‑grain‑rich (WGR) compliance (WGR below the 80% requirement) and insufficient fruit portions at breakfast for grades 5–8. The packet includes the reviewer’s corrective‑action instructions and technical assistance notes.
The district’s SNP contact is listed as Food Service Director Becky Delimont; the KSDE reviewer’s entries in the packet (entered 11/22/2024 by Dayna Kriley) documented both commendations (variety of fresh fruit and scratch cooking) and the findings that required written procedures and documentation. The review also identified civil‑rights procedure gaps and a nondiscrimination statement that was updated onsite.
The district must submit specific corrective actions such as revising procedures for signing determinations, ensuring gross income is used for verification, implementing point‑of‑service meal counts, adjusting production records so portion sizes meet minimum meal patterns, and increasing the WGR portion of grains. KSDE required documentation — for example, screenshots from PowerSchool after eligibility changes and production records — to close findings.
Next steps in the packet include corrective‑action submission instructions to KSDE and follow‑up verification items. The findings are documented in the board packet and were summarized during the Jan. 20 meeting by Superintendent Ken Tharman as “addressed and/or a plan of action written up” with the review file considered closed pending completion of required responses.
Speakers and attributions in this article are taken from the board packet and meeting minutes: Food Service Director Becky Delimont (contact listed in the review), KSDE reviewer Dayna Kriley, and Superintendent Ken Tharman.
