MSNA at Legislative Action Conference
By Mike Mitchelson

To get anything done on a large scale, it usually requires government involvement. The Minnesota School Nutrition Association last month took part in a national lobbying effort with the national School Nutrition Association at its annual Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C., to bring a national nutritional standard to a la carte food items (food and beverages sold outside a school’s cafeteria) and to increase funding for school lunches—the current reimbursement for a “free” lunch is $2.47.

The national association pointed out in their issue paper that a latté costs more than the current funding for a lunch. “It was a good way to bring that point to some of these legislative aides, those 20 and 30 year old ‘kids,’ and their morning starts with a latté,” said Kathy Burrill, foodservice director for Chisago school district, Midwest regional director for the SNA and part of the Minnesota contingent. “Many times we met with the aides who carried our information to the senator or representative if they were not available, and we got that point driven home. I don’t know anyplace you could go for $2.47 and get a complete meal that would include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, milk and meat and all the components we’re required.”

“It’s our big issue,” said Jean Ronnei, St. Paul Public Schools director of nutrition services, who also joined the group in Washington, D.C. “It’s pretty straightforward. To be able to get to do what we need to do, we need the resources to cover it.”

The MSNA’s group of about 16 school foodservice directors and industry representatives—including Schwan’s and General Mills—did get to meet with a number of Minnesota’s senators and representatives face to face, however, with most—from both parties—being supportive of the cause, including Representative Colin Peterson, who is chair of the House Agricultural Committee, and Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Not everyone was receptive to the idea of a national standard, however. Rep. Michele Bachmann told the group she is against the idea of a national standard, largely because it was a national standard and she feared it would require another government program, despite the fact that the USDA already oversees national school nutritional guidelines for school lunches.

Which of course, means maintaining the status quo, which has caused significant problems in both nutritional guidelines and for companies manufacturing products for schools, who then have to manufacture dozens of different products. “It’s not cost feasible for those manufacturers and drives up the cost of food for us,” Burrill said. “With the development of a national standard we wouldn’t have that issue.”

The funding issue is one of logic. Federal funding for school lunch programs has not increased for years, and with the rapid escalation of fuel and commodities prices, it’s long overdue. “What we told all of them, when they asked, ‘Where is the money going to come from,’ is you have to look at this as the future,” Burrill said. “This is the next president, senator or representative. And if we don’t take care of some of those children now, who is going to? We can’t let this continue. Especially when they talk about obesity crisis and everything else, if we don’t put the money into it now, you’ll pay for it down the line. It seems like a good investment. …It does get frustrating. You really do have to look at it from all sides, but the most important aspect is, if you don’t invest in your future, what do you invest in?”

The SNA’s national agenda would fall under the U.S. Farm Bill, which, while hotly debated for 2007, is not again up for renewal until 2009. But it was still important for the case to be made and relationships enhanced between stakeholders and legislators, Burrill said. In addition, the extra time will allow the association to develop the standards they need. “We have a task force looking at this, and have others at the table to develop science-based standards, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Institute of Medicine,” she said.


Promise at the state

Accomplishing anything at the state legislature looks equally daunting, but there is hope for action at this non-funding session (the state generally passes funding for programs every two years). It’s happened in the past.

The goal for the association at the Minnesota state legislature is to increase funding for the Minnesota Kindergarten Milk Program, which provides a carton of milk to kindergarten students each day, Ronnei said.

Well, almost a whole carton. The state supplies 14 cents per carton, but a carton costs closer to 21 cents. In years past when funding has dropped, many districts dropped the program, rather than absorb the cost or pass it on to families.

What gives the association hope at the State is the funding increase does have bipartisan support with bills authored in the House and Senate, Ronnei said. If funding doesn’t happen this year, it’s likely next year—a funding year. Credit a retired foodservice director, Myrna Erickson from Thief River Falls for forging the relationship with legislators.

“She really went out of her way to build a relationship with (State) Senator LeRoy Stumpf (D-Thief River Falls) and he’s been our champion and carried the bill,” Burrill said.