LOCAL WELLNESS POLICY
8510 - WELLNESS
As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Leslie School District.
The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of the District's students. Furthermore, research concludes that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and well-being and his/her ability to learn. Moreover, schools can play an important role in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools' meal programs, by supporting the development of good eating habits, and by promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.
The Board, however, believes this effort to support the students' development of healthy behaviors and habits with regard to eating and exercise cannot be accomplished by the schools alone. It will be necessary for not only the staff, but also parents and the public at large to be involved in a community-wide effort to promote, support, and model such healthy behaviors and habits.
The Board sets the following goals in an effort to enable students to establish good health and nutrition habits:
A. With regard to nutrition education, posters such as the Food Pyramid Guide will be displayed in the cafeteria.
B. With regard to physical activity, the District shall:
1. Physical Education - Properly certificated, highly qualified teachers shall provide all
instruction in physical education.
2. Physical Activity - All students in grades 7-12 shall have the opportunity to participate in
interscholastic sports programs.
C. With regard to other school-based activities the District shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
D. With regard to nutrition promotion, the District shall:
1. encourage students to increase their consumption of healthful foods during the school
day;
2. create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits, including
offering the following healthy foods that comply with the USDA Dietary Guidelines for
Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards:
a. a variety of fresh produce to include those prepared without added fats, sugars, refined
sugars, and sodium
b. a variety of vegetables daily to include specific subgroups as defined by dark green,
red/orange, legumes, and starchy
c. whole grain products - half of all grains need to be whole grain-rich upon initial
implementation and all grains must be whole grain-rich within two (2) years of
implementation
d. fluid milk that is fat-free (unflavored and flavored) and low-fat (unflavored)
e. meals designed to meet specific calorie ranges for age/grade groups
3. eliminate trans-fat from school meals
4. require students to select a fruit or vegetable as part of a complete reimbursable meal
E. All foods and beverages sold to students as fund raisers outside of the school meals program during the regular and extended school day for consumption on the school campus shall meet the USDA Competitive Food regulations, the Alliance for A Healthier Generation’s Competitive Foods and Beverages Guidelines, and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
Furthermore, with the objectives of enhancing student health and well being, and reducing childhood obesity, the following guidelines are established:
A. In accordance with Policy 8500, entitled Food Service, the food service program shall comply with Federal and State regulations pertaining to the selection, preparation, consumption, and disposal of food and beverages, including but not limited to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, as well as to the fiscal management of the program.
B. As set forth in Policy 8531, entitled Free and Reduced Price Meals, the guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The sale of foods of minimal nutritional value in the food service area during the lunch period is prohibited.
C. The sale of foods and beverages to students that do not meet the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards to be consumed on the school campus during the school day is prohibited.
D. All food items and beverages available for sale to students for consumption on the school campus (any area of property under the jurisdiction of the school that is accessible to students during the school day) between midnight and thirty (30) minutes after the close of the regular school day shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, including, but not limited to, competitive foods that are available to students a la carte or as entrees in the dining area (except entree items that were offered on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) menu on the day of and the day after they are offered on the NSLP or SBP menu), as well as food items and beverages from vending machines, from school stores, or as fund-raisers, including those operated by student clubs and organizations, parent groups, or boosters clubs.
E. The food service program will provide all students affordable access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to be healthy and to learn well.
The Board designates the Superintendent as the individual charged with operational responsibility for verifying that the District meets the goals established in this policy.
The Superintendent shall appoint a District wellness committee that includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, educational staff (including physical education teachers), school health professionals, members of the public and school administrators to oversee development, implementation, evaluation and periodic update of the wellness policy. The Wellness Committee shall be an ad hoc committee with members recruited and chosen annually.
The Wellness Committee shall be responsible for:
A. assessment of the current school environment;
B. review of the District’s wellness policy;
C. presentation of the wellness policy to the school board for approval;
D. measurement of the implementation of the policy;
E. recommendation for the revision of the policy, as necessary.
Before the end of each school year the Wellness Committee shall recommend to the Superintendent any revisions to the policy it deems necessary.
The Superintendent shall report annually to the Board on the progress of the Wellness Committee and on its evaluation of policy implementation and areas for improvement, including status of compliance by individual schools and progress made in attaining goals of policy.
The Superintendent is also responsible for informing the public, including parents, students and community members, on the content and implementation of this policy. In order to inform the public, the Superintendent shall distribute information at the beginning of the school year to families of school children and post the policy on the District’s website, including the Wellness Committee's assessment of the implementation of the policy.
42 U.S.C. 1751, Sec. 204
42 U.S.C. 1771
7 C.F.R. Parts 210 and 220
© Neola 2014
