PSS gets $6.1M for nutrition program

The Public School System has been approved for a $6.1 million Nutrition Assistance grant for fiscal year 2006, most of which would go to the school system’s Child Nutrition Programs.

PSS federal programs advisor Tim Thornburgh said the school system just acquired the federal grant and that 92 percent of it will be allotted to the local nutrition programs.

Thornburgh said that PSS would use $5.6 million of the amount to serve breakfast and lunch to an estimated 13,000 children in all 53 public and private schools in the Commonwealth.

“We estimate that more than $500,000 breakfasts, 2 million lunches, and 1.2 million after school-snacks will be served at an estimated cost…of over $5.6 million,” he said.

He said the estimated cost is based on school year 2004 and 2005 contracts with private vendors plus the new after-school snack program of the PSS. He said the menus would reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Thornburgh said most of the remaining amount would be used in other aspects of the nutrition program in schools. He said 3 percent of the grant or $183,531 would be used to provide education and training to food service staff, teachers, students and to parents attending meetings, focusing on improving nutrition and reducing the incidence of child obesity and Type II diabetes in the CNMI.

“The training and informational services will focus on sound nutritional practices and the importance of a balanced diet,” he said.

The PSS, said Thornburgh, would pay the contractual expenses for a nutritionist and support activities promoting proper diet and healthy exercise in schools.

Another $183,531 would be used for equipment and facility improvements in school canteens. Thornburgh said these funds would allow them to replace decrepit equipment in school cafeterias. New equipment would also be acquired for new schools, said Thornburgh.

The upgrading, replacing, repairing and achieving preventive maintenance for the equipment and facilities used to support the nutrition program would now be possible with the grant, he added.

Some 2 percent of the allocated grant, or $122,354, would be used for the salary and benefits of the program’s administration. These costs, he said, in addition to staff, would include telephone, transportation, travel, supplies and other program-related expenses.