Grand Forks (ND) Public Schools was named the 2011 District of the Year in School Nutrition during the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference. Julie Tunseth, director of child nutrition, accepted the award on behalf of the district.
Grand Forks’ Child Nutrition Department was recognized for its commitment to excellence in creating nutritious, appealing meals, implementing innovative nutrition education initiatives, developing a strong professional development program and exercising superior financial management. As further evidence of this program’s success, every single one of Grand Forks Elementary Schools has received the Gold Award of Distinction under the HealthierUS School Challenge.
Grand Forks Public Schools offers breakfast and lunch in all of the district’s schools, after-school snack programs in all elementary schools and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in seven schools. The Child Nutrition Department continuously strives to improve its meals, and despite an open campus policy at Grand Forks High Schools, the department maintains a 70 percent participation rate for lunch.
Grand Forks was one of seven districts from across the nation awarded the District of Excellence Distinction this year through SNA’s Keys to Excellence program. Keys to Excellence, a core component of SNA’s professional development and credentialing programs since 1992, is a national best practice standards tool for school nutrition professionals seeking to assess, benchmark and improve their school food and nutrition operations.
The District of Excellence and District of the Year programs are made possible through the support of the National Dairy Council.