DECATUR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WELLNESS POLICY. Revised

Transcription

1 DECATUR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WELLNESS POLICY Revised

2 DECATUR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WELLNESS POLICY INTRODUCTION Whereas, children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to learn, grow, and thrive; Whereas, good health fosters student attendance and education; Whereas, obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last two decades, and physical inactivity and excessive calorie intake are the predominant causes of obesity; Whereas, heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are responsible for two-thirds of deaths in the United States, and major risk factors for those diseases, including unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, and obesity, often are established in childhood; Whereas, 33% of high school students do not participate in sufficient vigorous physical activity and 72% of high school students do not attend daily physical education classes; Whereas, only 2% of children (2 to 19 years) eat a healthy diet consistent with the five main recommendations form the Food Guide Pyramid; Whereas, nationally, the items most commonly sold from school vending machines, school stores, and snack bars include low-nutrition foods and beverages, such as soda, sports drinks, imitation fruit juices, chips, candy, cookies, and snack cakes; Whereas, school districts around the country are facing significant fiscal and scheduling constraints; Whereas, community participation is essential to the development and implementation of successful school wellness policies; Thus, the Decatur County School System is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Therefore, it is the policy of the Decatur County School System that: All students in grades Pre K- 12 will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis. All students in grades Pre K- 12 will have the opportunity to eat a healthy, affordable, and appealing meal that meets the requirements of the USDA guidelines; All students will be given adequate time to eat in a clean, safe, and pleasant setting.

3 All foods and beverages sold or served at school, will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To the maximum extent possible, all schools in our district will participate in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program). The Decatur County School District will engage students, parents, teachers, administrators, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies. Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services. TO ACHIEVE THESE POLICY GOALS I. School Health Councils The school district and/or individual schools within the district will create, strengthen, or work within existing school health councils to develop, implement, monitor, review, and as necessary, revise school nutrition and physical activity policies. The councils also will serve as resources to school sites for implementing those policies. School Health Advisory Council Members : Title: Type of Representation Member Ginger Teague: CSH Coordinator Betty Camper: Food Service Supervisor Renae Lomax: PES Principal Danny Adkisson: DES Principal Hugh Smith: RHS Principal Chris Villaflor: DCMS Principal Amy Clenney: Family Resource Director Melinda Thompson: Spv of Instruction Bradley Dodd: School Board Member, State Government Jimmy Tate: School Board Member, Business Tommy Haggard: School Board, Business, & Parent Tracy Connell: School Based Mental Health Counselor Amber Wyatt: Healthcare & Parent Will Quinn: Healthcare, Faith Based, Parent, & Business Mary Jo Anglin: Business & State Government Danny Haynes: Business Charlotte Moore: UT Extension

4 Clay Jordan: Carl Perkins CPCA, Parent Diana Montgomery: C.A.S.A. Diane Oman: Mental Health Emily Evans: Healthcare, Parent Genita Huskey: Faith Based, Local Government Kellie Maxwell Landry: Faith Based, Business, Parent Linda Quinn: Healthcare Melanie Holbert: Parent, Local Governement, Business Stephanie Wilkerson: Faith Based, Business Steve Clenney: Business, Parent Tara Hendrix: Healthcare, Faith Based, Parent Hank Ivey: Parent, Local Government Kevin Cagle: Local Governement II. Nutritional Quality of Foods and Beverages Sold and Served on Campus School Meals Meals served through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs will: be appealing, nutritious, and attractive to children; meet (a least) the minimum nutritional requirements set by local, state, and federal regulations; contain only low-fat (1%) and fat-free milk and nutritionally-equivalent non-dairy alternatives; offer a variety of fruits and vegetables on a regular basis; ensure that all grains served are whole grains; be served in an environment that is clean and age appropriate. III. NUTRITION AND NUTRITION EDUCATION The Decatur County School System will engage students and parents in decision making relating to healthy food choices. Based on information gained from students and parents, new and nutritional food choices will be identified. Nutritional information will be made readily available to students and parents via menus, menu boards, and upon request. Nutrition education will be included in various areas of the curriculum. Staff will be properly trained to deliver adequate lessons on health and nutrition.

5 Community members will be encouraged to be active members of school health and nutrition issues. School employees, along with community volunteers, will work to educate parents about nutritional issues and healthy choices. Breakfast The Decatur County School System believes that breakfast is an important part of a child s day. Schools will, to the extent possible, operate the School Breakfast Program. Schools will, to the extent possible, arrange bus schedules and utilize methods to serve school breakfasts that encourage participation, including serving breakfast in the classroom, grab-and-go breakfast, or breakfast during morning break or recess. Schools that serve breakfast to students will notify parents and students of the availability of the School Breakfast Program. Schools will encourage parents to provide a healthy breakfast for their children through newsletter articles, take-home materials, or other means. Free and Reduced Price Meals All schools will make every effort to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced price school meals. Whenever possible, schools will use electronic payment and identification systems. Meal Times and Scheduling All schools in the Decatur County School System: will provide students with at least 10 minutes to eat after sitting down for breakfast and 20 minutes after sitting down for lunch; should schedule meal periods at appropriate times, e.g., lunch should be scheduled between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; should not schedule tutoring, club, or organizational meetings or activities during mealtimes, unless students may eat during such activities;

6 will provide students access to hand washing or hand sanitizing before they eat meals or snacks; and should take reasonable steps to accommodate the tooth-brushing regimens of students with special oral health needs (e.g., orthodontia or high tooth decay risk). Qualifications of Food Service Staff All food service personnel hired by the Decatur County School System will be appropriately trained to administer the role they play in the school meal program. Professional development will be provided by the system for all food service professionals. Child nutrition directors, school nutrition managers, cafeteria workers, and Coordinated School Health directors and assistants will be properly certified to lead the schools in making good nutritional decisions. Sharing of Foods and Beverages Due to concerns for student health, sharing foods and beverages will be highly discouraged. Restaurant Foods in Cafeteria Setting Parents and/or students will not be permitted to bring restaurant/quick market foods into the cafeteria setting. Foods packaged in restaurant packaging will not be permitted in any of the school cafeterias. Sodas are not permitted in the cafeteria by students, parents, or staff. It is the responsibility of the school administration to monitor the cafeterias for any violation of these rules and address any noncompliance. Individually Sold Foods and Beverages This policy covers all foods sold during the school day including foods sold outside of reimbursable school meals, such as through vending machines, cafeteria a la carte, snacks, fundraisers, school stores. During the school lunch period, a la carte items may not be purchased without a school lunch or lunch brought from home. Elementary Schools The school food service program will approve and provide all food and beverage sales to students in elementary school. Given young children s limited nutrition skills, food in elementary schools will be served and sold as balanced meals. Beverages will be limited to 1% and non-fat milk, 100% fruit juice, and water. Tennessee s School Vending Law will be followed. The allowed beverages listed below do not apply to elementary schools.

7 All Schools All foods and beverages sold individually outside the reimbursable school meal programs (including those sold through a la carte [snack] lines, vending machines, student stores, or fundraising activities) during the school day, or through programs for students after the school day, will meet the following nutrition and portion size standards: Competitive foods must: Be either a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, a protein food, a whole-grain rich grain product (50% or more whole grains by weight or have whole grains as the first ingredient), or a combination food that contains at least 1 4 cup of fruit or vegetable; or Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of a nutrient cited as a public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or fiber). Additionally, foods sold must meet a range of calorie and nutrient requirements: Total fat must be 35% of calories; saturated fat must be <10% of calories; and trans fat must be 0 g as stated on the label. Exemptions are provided for reduced fat cheese; nuts and nut butters without other ingredients and seafood with no added fat. Snack items shall contain 200 milligrams of sodium. For entrée items, sodium levels must be 480 milligrams per portion, for non-nslp/sbp entrée items. For total sugar levels shall contain 35% of weight. Exemptions are provided for fruits and vegetables packed in juice or extra-light syrup and for certain yogurts. Snack items have a limit on calories of 200 calories per portion. Non- school lunch/breakfast program entrée items have a calorie limit of 350 calories. Beverages Schools may sell plain water, plain low fat milk, plain or flavored fat- free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP, and 100% fruit/vegetable juice. Portion sizes of milk and juice vary by the age of students. Elementary schools may sell up to 8 ounce portions. Middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions. There are more drink options for high school students. These include 20-ounce servings or less for calorie-free, flavored and/or unflavored carbonated water and other calorie-free beverages that comply with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard of <5 cals/serving.

8 Additionally, 12-ounce servings of other beverages (like sports drinks) that fall within the specified calorie limit will be allowed. Such beverages shall not be available in the meal service area during the meal service periods. Accompaniments Accompaniments (condiments like ketchup, salad dressing, mayo) are required to be pre-portioned and offered only when food is sold. In addition, accompaniments must fit within the nutrient profile of the food that they accompany. Fundraisers The sale of food items that meet the nutrition requirements at fundraisers would not be limited in any way under the proposed rule. However, the law permits USDA to allow for a limited number of fundraisers to sell food and beverage items that do not meet the proposed nutrition requirements. Fundraising Activities To support children s health and school nutrition-education efforts, school fundraising activities that promote healthy eating habits and physical activity will be encouraged. Snacks Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to children s diets and health, with an emphasis on serving fruits, vegetables, whole grain, and dairy as the primary snack components. Schools will assess if and when to offer snacks based on timing of school meals, children s nutritional needs, children s ages, and other considerations. The district will maintain a list on the district s website of healthful snack ideas for teachers, after-school program personnel, and parents. If eligible, schools that provide snacks through after-school programs will pursue receiving reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program. Rewards Schools will not use foods or beverages, especially those that do not meet the nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually, as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food or beverages (including food served through school meals) as a punishment. Celebrations Schools will limit celebrations that involve food during the school day to only school holiday events. Each party should include no more than one food or beverage that does not meet the nutrition

9 standards for foods and beverages sold individually. The district will disseminate a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers through the district website or newsletter. In addition to the celebration guidelines listed above, all items brought into the school must be in unopened packages with ingredient labels clearly visible. Homemade items will not be allowed due to allergies. III. Nutrition and Physical Activity Promotion and Food Marketing Nutrition Education and Promotion Decatur County School System aims to teach, encourage, and support healthy eating habits by students. Schools will be provided nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that: is offered at each grade level as part of a sequential, comprehensive, standards-based program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health; is part of not only health education classes, but also classroom instruction in subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences, and elective subjects; includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant, participatory activities, such as contests, promotions, taste testing, farm visits, and school gardens; promotes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing nutrition practices; emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (physical activity/exercise); links with school meal programs, other school foods, and nutrition-related community services; teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food marketing; and includes training for teachers and other staff. Integrating Physical Activity into the Classroom Setting Students will be allowed and encouraged to participate in physical activities that will meet (at a minimum) the 90 minute requirement. Students need opportunities beyond P.E. classes to embrace physical activity as a personal behavior. Toward that end:

10 classroom health education will complement physical education by reinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain a physically-active lifestyle and to reduce time spent on sedentary activities, such as watching television; opportunities for physical activity will be incorporated into other subject lessons; and classroom teachers will provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes, as appropriate. Communication with Parents The Decatur County School System will support parents efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. The system will offer healthy eating seminars for parents, send home nutrition information, post nutrition tips on school websites, and provide nutrient analyses of school menus. Schools will encourage parents to pack healthy lunches and snacks. Parents will be provided with a list of suggested food/beverage ideas for healthy celebrations/parties, rewards and fundraising activities via the district website or newsletter. The district will provide information about physical education and other school-based physical activity opportunities before, during, and after the school day; and support parents efforts to provide their children with opportunities to be physically active outside of school. Such supports will include sharing information about physical activity and physical education through a website, newsletter, or other takehome materials special events, or physical education homework. Food Marketing in Schools School-based marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. As such, schools will limit food and beverage marketing to the promotion of foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually. School-based marketing of brands promoting predominantly low-nutrition foods and beverages is prohibited. The promotion of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products will be encouraged. Staff Wellness Decatur County School System highly values the health and well-being of every staff member and will plan and implement activities and policies that support personal efforts by staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

11 IV. Physical Activity Opportunities and Physical Education Daily Physical Education (P.E.) Physical activity will be integrated across curricula and throughout the school day. Physical education courses will be the environment where students learn, practice, and are assessed on developmentally appropriate motor skills, social skills, and knowledge. Policies ensure that state-certified physical education instructors teach all physical education classes. Policies ensure that state physical education classes have a student/teacher ratio similar to other classes. Time allotted for physical activity will be consistent with research and national and state standards. Provide a daily recess period, which is not used as a punishment or a reward. Physical education includes the instruction of individual activities as well as competitive and non-competitive team sports to encourage life-long physical activity. Adequate equipment is available for all students to participate in physical education. Physical activity facilities on school grounds will be safe. The school provides a physical and social environment that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students, including those who are not athletically gifted. Information will be provided to families to help them incorporate physical activity into their student s lives. Schools encourage families and community to institute programs that support physical activity. The Decatur County School System will abide by the Tennessee State Board of Education Physical Activity Policy (See attached). V. Monitoring and Policy Review Monitoring The director or designee will ensure compliance with established district-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies. In each school, the principal will ensure compliance with those policies in his/her school and will report on the school s compliance to the school district director or designee.

12 School food service staff, at the school or district level, will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and will report on this matter to the director (or if done at the school level, to the school principal). In addition, the district will receive an administrative review from the state agency every three years. The school district will be made aware of any findings from the review and correct problems. The director or designee will develop a summary report every three years on district-wide compliance with the district s established nutrition and physical activity wellness policies, based on input from schools within the district. That report will be provided to the school board and also distributed to all school health councils, parent/teacher organizations, school principals, and school health services personnel in the district. Review In order to help guide the development of Decatur County School System s Wellness Policy, each school will conduct the School Health Index offered by the CDC. The results of the SHI will be used to identify and prioritize needs on a school-by-school basis. Assessments will be repeated every year to help assure policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. The district, and individual schools within the district, will, as necessary, revise the wellness policies and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation. Data collection will include the following wellness information collected by Coordinated School Health: Participation rates in school meal programs Student satisfaction surveys to monitor the effect that the consumption of healthy snacks has on children s health, behavior and school performance (and to monitor satisfaction with snack choices), nutritional guidelines are minimal and local programs may adopt more stringent guidelines The local school board of education, at a minimum, shall develop a district policy that ensures the implementation and assigns responsibility for compliance with these rules Within one year of the revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), the State Board of Education, in consultation and cooperation with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, shall review these rules References: Model Wellness Policies: School Nutrition Association: