Appeals panel reverses MDOE ruling cutting ties to meal provider

(St. Paul, MN) -- An appeals panel is reversing a ruling by the Minnesota Department of Education that cut ties with a nonprofit providing meals to school children.

The panel says the department acted improperly when terminating the relationship with the nonprofit Partners in Nutrition without what they considered proper notice. The new ruling doesn't affect previous actions to deny nearly 260 out of almost 300 reimbursement claims the nonprofit filed for November and December.

The nonprofit's name has appeared in FBI search warrants related to an investigation into possible federal nutrition fraud.