AS part of their annual visit to the CNMI, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials met with the Public School System leadership on Aug. 16.
USDA, through its Food and Nutrition Service program, funds the free meal program (breakfast and lunch) of over 10,000 public elementary, middle and high school students of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. USDA-FNS works with PSS in improving and supporting a healthy lifestyle and well-being of public-school students.
The visiting officials are from USDA’s Western Regional Office in California: Administrator Jesus Mendoza Jr., Special Nutrition Program Director Marisa Cheung, and Public Affairs Director Mary Kay Grominger.
“While here they met with staff administering federally funded nutrition programs, including the Nutrition Assistance Program, the Women, Infants and Children Program and PSS-Child Nutrition Program,” said Dale Roberts, PSS-CNP director.
Roberts said the USDA-WRO visits the CNMI and other jurisdictions on a regular basis, but for the past two years, the global Covid-19 pandemic prevented them from visiting the Commonwealth.
On Capital Hill, Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna, interim Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline Che, and CNP Director Roberts, among other education officials, met with the visiting federal officials.
“Their visit is very important to us in validating what we, at PSS, have been working for many years now in ensuring that we continue to promote healthy nutrition and the well-being of our children under federal USDA guidelines,” Commissioner Ada said.
He said PSS, with the support of the Board of Education, has put in place effective policies that promote healthy lifestyle in the classroom.
The education officials’ meeting with the USDA officials also discussed the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer benefit for school children, the fiscal year 2023 CNP budget, and the proposal to build a new cafeteria for Garapan Elementary School.
Following the meeting, the USDA officials toured the recently constructed and USDA-funded Koblerville Elementary School cafeteria.
On Aug. 16, 2022, as part of their annual visit to the CNMI, three officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Western Regional Office met with the Public School System leadership. The visiting USDA officials were WRO Administrator Jesus Mendoza, Jr., Special Nutrition Program Director Marisa Cheung, and Public Affairs Director Mary Kay Grominger. Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Associate Commissioner Eric Magofna, interim Federal Program’s Officer Jackie Che and PSS Child Nutrition Program Director Dale Roberts met with the USDA officials. The federal agency funds the free meal (breakfast and lunch) program of PSS.
