As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Mt. Health City 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 suggests 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, the District shall:
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| | | 1. | Nutrition education for all students K-12, that is sequential and comprehensive shall be included in the Health curriculum so that instruction is standards-based and provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to lead healthy lives.
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| | | 2. | Nutrition Education standards and benchmarks shall be age-appropriate, culturally relevant and behavior focused.
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| | | 3. | Nutrition education shall extend beyond the classroom by engaging staff families and the community.
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| | | 4. | Staff shall participate in professional development to enable them to teach nutrition education and/or integrate nutrition education into subject areas of the curriculum.
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| | B. | With regard to physical activity, the District shall:
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| | | | a. | A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for all students, including those with disabilities, special health care needs in K-12 in accordance with the standards and benchmarks established by the State and National standards.
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| | | | b. | Properly certificated, highly qualified teachers shall provide all instruction in physical education.
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| | | | a. | Physical activity and movement shall be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
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| | | | b. | In addition to planned physical education, the school shall provide age-appropriate physical activities that meet the needs of all students, including males, females, students with disabilities, and students with special health care needs.
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| | C. | With regard to other school-based activities the District shall:
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| | | 1. | The schools shall demonstrate support for the health of all students by hosting health clinics and screenings and encouraging parents to enroll their eligible children in Medicaid or in other children's health insurance programs for which they may qualify.
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| | | 2. | The schools shall promote healthy eating by scheduling mealtimes so there is a minimum disruption.
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| | | 3. | The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
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| | | 4. | An organized wellness/health promotion program shall be available to all staff.
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| | | 5. | The schools shall provide opportunities for staff, parents, and other community members to model healthy eating habits by dining with students in the school dining areas.
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| | | 6. | The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) will collaborate with the District Safety Committee to promote the health and safety of all students, parents, staff and visitors.
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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 as well as to the fiscal management of the program.
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| | 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).
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| | C. | The food service program will strive to be financially self-supporting; however, if it is necessary to subsidize the operation, it will not be through the sale of foods with minimal nutritious value.
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| | D. | 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.
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| | E. | All foods available to students in District shall be served with consideration for promoting student health and well-being.
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The Board designates the Superintendent as the individual charged with operational responsibility for measuring and evaluating the District's implementation and progress under this policy. The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines necessary to implement this policy and continue the School Health Advisory Council. The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) will assist in monitoring the outcomes and advising on continuous improvements that can be made to further enhance health and wellness in the district. The SHAC will write an annual action and evaluation plan, which will be presented to the Superintendent.
The Superintendent shall report on the District's compliance with this policy and the progress toward achieving the goals set forth herein when requested to do so by the Board.
42 U.S.C. 1751, Sec. 204
42 U.S.C. 1771
Adopted 7/24/06