WELLNESS POLICY
District Wellness Committee
The Board shall form a district wellness committee to develop the wellness policy and perform additional duties described. The Board encourages parents, students, school food service representatives, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, school board members, school administrators, and the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the school wellness policy.
The District Wellness Committee shall determine the best methods for these individuals and groups to participate in meetings and shall provide information about the participation processes to others using appropriate, effective, and cost efficient methods.
The District Wellness Committee shall meet quarterly to develop a plan for implementing the wellness policy in each school. The implementation plan shall delineate roles, responsibilities, and timelines specific to each school and set goals and objectives in accordance with the requirements of this policy.
The District Wellness Committee shall work with the Superintendent to evaluate each implementation plan. The Superintendent shall designate one individual per school building to ensure building-level compliance with this policy. The name of each designee must be listed in administrative regulations (see ABCC-AR). Each designee shall collect, summarize, and report evaluation data to the committee.
At least once every three years, the District Wellness Committee shall conduct an assessment of the wellness policy and comply with all reporting requirements mandated by federal law. The District Wellness Committee shall provide the assessment to the Board and disseminate it publicly on the district's website and in the district newsletter.
The District Wellness Committee may recommend amendments to the wellness policy for board consideration, based on the results of the assessment; changes in district priorities; changes in community needs; changes in wellness goals; advances in health science, information, and technology; new federal or state guidance; or the issuance of new standards or regulations.
Annually, the District shall disseminate the wellness policy to staff, students, parents, and the public publication in student handbooks and posting on the district website. The District shall also inform parents regarding improvements that have been made to school meals and compliance with school meal standards, the availability of child nutrition programs and how to apply; as well as the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards.
The District shall retain all wellness policy records mandated by federal law.
Physical Activity
In addition to state standards and mandatesl related to physical education, the District should strive to make opportunities available for students to be physically active.
The goals of physical activity programs must be to:
1. Develop students' knowledge and skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities;
2. Assess, maintain and improve personal fitness;
3. Regularly participate in physical activity;
4. Understand the short- and long-term benefits of physical activity; and
5. Value and enjoy physical activity as an ongoing part of a healthy lifestyle.
Students with disabilities and other special health needs may participate as fully as possible in physical education and other school physical activity programs. Teachers and other school personnel shall not withhold opportunities for physical activity (e.g., recess, physical education class) as punishment.
The District has implemented regulation ABCC-AR2, which contains additional programs and guidelines the District uses to promote physical activity.
Nutrition Education and Promotion
The District shall teach, model, and support healthy eating in grades K-12 through the curriculum and through other promotional methods . The District should strive to:
1. Educate teachers and other staff members responsible for nutrition education (e.g., provide training regarding the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and how to teach them);
2. Identify and implement methods to educate family members about district nutrition standards and goals as well as involve them in program development and implementation.
3. Integrate nutrition education into core curricula that is aligned with state standards and requirements;
4. Include developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant and participatory activities in the nutrition curriculum;
5. Emphasize caloric balance between food intake and physical activity
6. Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
7. Promote fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and accurate portion sizes; and
8. Promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students as well as encourage participation in school meal programs.
Nutrition promotion must be implemented through the use of evidence-based healthy food promotion techniques (e.g. Smarter Lunchroom techniques ). All foods and beverages offered to students during the school day must meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards.
The District Wellness Committee may develop a list of activities that will help the District achieve the above goals.
Other School-Sponsored Activities
The District shall seek to promote the physical activity and nutrition goals of this policy through other activities that are practical, implementable, and within district budgetary and statutory parameters. The goals of these other activities shall reinforce the nutrition promotion, nutrition education, and/or physical activity goals set forth above. Activities implemented under this provision may be offered to students, parents, and/or district staff.
The District Wellness Committee may develop activities and programs that will help the District achieve its goals. Such activities and programs may include before-school and after-school physical activities, active transport programs, staff wellness programs, staff professional development programs related to wellness, alternatives to using food as rewards, healthy celebration/party ideas and fundraisers, as well as community partnership programs.
Nutrition Standards
The District shall comply with applicable nutrition standards established in federal regulations for all reimbursable meals, e.g., the National School Breakfast and Lunch program. The District also operates additional nutrition-related programs and activities including if applicable, insert here a list of other programs such as Farm to School programs, school gardens, Breakfast in the Classroom, Mobile Breakfast/snack carts, Grab 'n' Go Breakfast, Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program or others. The District shall comply with the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards for all competitive foods and beverages sold on school grounds during the school day to students, including those foods and beverages provided at celebrations and parties and classroom snacks brought by staff or family members. The District shall not allow foods and beverages at a free or discounted price if those foods do not meet the USDA's Smarter Snacks in Schools nutrition standards. Non-food celebrations and rewards shall be promoted and a list of ideas made available to staff and family members.
Foods purchased to raise funds must meet the USDA's Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards . The District may also encourage fundraising ideas that are non-food related.
Exception to Competitive Food and Beverage Sales
Each school year, schools within the District may hold up to three fundraisers that do not comply with federal nutrition standards for competitive food and beverage sales. The Superintendent shall develop rules for requesting and receiving approval to hold fundraisers under this exception. The fundraiser may occur during school hours, but not during school meal times.
Standards for competitive food and beverage sales do not apply to foods and beverages sold off school grounds and foods and beverages sold on school grounds more than 30minutes after the school day until midnight of the next school day.
Hydration Standards
To promote hydration, unflavored drinking water that is free must be made available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school. The District shall make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes. In addition, students shall be allowed to bring and carry water bottles filled with only water throughout the day.
Marketing
The District permits the marketing of food items that meet or exceed the USDA's Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. All advertising and promotions of food items, must be approved by the Superintendent, or an individual that has been appointed by the Superintendent to make such decisions. These standards do not apply to foods and beverages sold off school grounds.
Qualifications and Training
The District must comply with any applicable hiring requirements under federal regulations for new hires in the food service program. They must also comply with the annual training requirements under federal regulations for all food service personnel (see ABCC-E).
Complementing NDSBA Templates (may contain items not adopted by the Board) ABCC-AR, Building-Level Wellness Policy Coordinators
ABCC-AR2, Physical Activity and Recess Regulations
ABCC-E, Hiring & Training Requirements for Food Services Staff
BBBB, School Board Committees
BDA, Procedure for Adopting Board Policy
BDBC, Citizens' Advisory Committees
FGDB, Student Handbooks
1B, Food Service Program
IB-E2, DPI Requirements & Guidelines for Adult Meals
IB-E3, Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value
End of United School District #7 Policy ABCC Adopted:
REQUIRED Descriptor Code: ABCC