Seven Kansas school districts and two organizations were honored Tuesday, Aug. 13, for outstanding practices in Child Nutrition and Wellness programs that help support the Kansans Can vision.

The Kansans Can 2018-2019 Best Practice Awards were presented during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting in Topeka. This is the third year for the awards.

The Kansans Can vision, which was established by the State Board of Education in 2015, is “Kansas leads the world in the success of each student.”

The recipients and the award they received are:

• Haven USD 312: Kansans Can Celebrate Nutrition and Wellness Special Events - The second annual Family Farm Fun Food Fitness Day brought local farmers and the community together. The event featured carnival games and a free farmers market for families to pick fresh produce and healthy snacks. Local 4-H participants also set up at the event to display projects. Haven High School - Kansans Can Implement Innovative Meal Pattern Strategies - Students at Haven High School asked for more lunch choices, and the nutrition staff delivered. Using Google, students make an “online order” to choose between four options daily. The cooks use the results of the orders to create the right amount of food, cutting both waste and excess.

• Prairie Hills USD 113: Kansans Can Increase Participation - Prairie Hills USD 113 took advantage of the Innovative Breakfast Delivery Grant opportunity and received funding for second-chance breakfast at three district buildings. Sabetha Middle School’s average daily breakfast participation increased 190%; Sabetha High School’s participation increased 100%; and Axtell Public School’s participation increased 69%.

• Olathe USD 233: Kansans Can Increase Participation - Olathe rolled out alternative breakfast delivery models for all levels of students. Elementary students have breakfast in the classroom, and secondary students get second-chance breakfast. The school-branded cafeteria boosts the environment at lunchtime. Kansans Can Serve It Safe - A day-long conference on food preparation and safety brings together 300 food service staff members to participate in some of the 28 classes offered and renew training requirements. When all the food service staff completes necessary trainings in one day, it saves the district money and resources.

• Garden City USD 457: Kansans Can Increase Participation - The food service staff members at Garden City set a goal to expand breakfast options and boost participation, and it succeeded. The first week of grab-and-go at Horace Good Middle School increased participation by 68%. Two schools that offered second-chance breakfast increased participation by 31% and 50%.

• Wichita USD 259: Kansans Can Increase Participation - Average daily participation for breakfast rose 36% across 18 schools that implemented an alternative breakfast delivery model, meaning an additional 1,500 meals were served to students. The district reported tardiness decreased 24% in the 18 schools as a result of the breakfast models.

• Manhattan-Ogden USD 383: Kansans Can Provide Outstanding Customer Service - Using Facebook revolutionized Manhattan-Ogden’s nutrition communications when staff members began Friendly Face Fridays and used the platform for family communication. Nutrislice software provides nutrition labels for menu items to families, which is especially beneficial for children with food allergies.

• Dodge City Public Schools USD 443: Kansans Can Serve It Safe - Food safety is a high priority in the cafeteria at USD 443, and the staff is well-trained in safety procedures. New hires take the online Food Safety Basics class within the first month, and they take the Food Safety and Sanitation class within the first year. The Food Safety and Sanitation class is renewed every three years.

• Quality Care Services Inc.: Kansans Can Manage Finances - Quality Care Services Inc. optimized its home visit and record keeping system to save $1,664 per year. With changes to label documentation taking effect for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) home sponsors, Quality Care Service Inc. simplified home visits, allowing time to be used more efficiently through the use of the Simplifying CACFP Notebook.

• Social Innovation Laboratory: Kansans Can Implement Innovative Meal Pattern Strategies - That Pop-Up Restaurant (TPUR) in Strong City is a popular Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) site that offers buildable meals – base, protein, toppings. This menu model ensures the meals meet the meal pattern guidelines for reimbursement. TPUR estimates the participation rate of eligible children is 25%.