Local Wellness Program Policy

BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT #52

BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY STATEMENT

Subject: Local Wellness Program

Policy Number: EFA Effective Date: 6/17

Date of Original Policy and Revisions: 6/06, 1/09, 12/10, 1/14

Cancels Policy No.: N/A _ Dated: N/A _

Date of Next Review: 6/20

POLICY

The District is committed to the optimal development of every student and believes that a positive, safe and health-promoting learning environment is necessary for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success.

Healthy eating patterns and sufficient physical activity are essential for students to achieve academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. Children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive.

Bethel School District is committed to reach, teach, and inspire the school community to adopt active lifestyles and healthful nutrition. The school environment will promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthful eating and physical activity through the District Wellness Program and the District will comply with all federal and state mandated school nutrition standards.

To help ensure students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy choices for a lifetime, the superintendent shall prepare and implement a comprehensive district nutrition program consistent with state and federal requirements for districts sponsoring the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The program shall reflect the Board’s commitment to providing adequate time for instruction that fosters healthy eating through nutrition education and promotion, serving healthy and appealing foods at district schools, developing food-use guidelines for staff and establishing liaisons with nutrition service providers, as appropriate.

The input of staff (including, but not limited to, physical education and school health professionals), students, parents, the public, the Board, school administrators, representatives of the school food authority and public health professionals will be encouraged in the development of wellness policy. The Superintendent shall establish a Wellness Committee to advise the district in the development of the local wellness policy. The superintendent or designee will develop guidelines as necessary to implement the goals of the local wellness plan and ensure compliance of such policy.

Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability, and Community Engagement

Implementation Plan

The district shall develop and maintain a plan to manage and coordinate the implementation of this wellness policy.

The plan will:

1. Delineate roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to each school;

2. Include information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and

when;

3. Include specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on

the school campus, and in food and beverage marketing; and

4. Include specific goals and objectives for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity,

physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.

In an effort to measure the implementation of this policy, the Board designates the District

principals as the people who will be responsible for ensuring each school meets the goals outlined

in this policy.

Record Keeping

The District will retain the following records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the District’s administrative offices:

5. The written wellness policy;

6. Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public;

7. Documentation of efforts to review and update the local wellness policy, including an indication of

who is involved in the update and the methods the district uses to make stakeholders aware of their

ability to participate;

8. Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements;

9. The most recent assessment on the implementation of the local wellness policy;

10. Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the local

wellness policy has been made available to the public.

Annual Notification of Policy

The district will make available to the public annually, an assessment of the implementation, including the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy, how the policy compares to model policy and a description of the progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy. The district will make this information available through the district website. The District will also publicize the name and contact information of the district or school officials leading and coordinating the policy, as well as information on how the public can get involved with the local wellness policy.

Triennial Progress Assessments

At least once every three years, the district will evaluate compliance with the local wellness policy, to assess the implementation of the policy and produce a triennial progress report that will include:

1. The extent to which schools under the jurisdiction of the District are in compliance with the policy;

2. The extent to which the District’s policy compares to model wellness policy; and

3. A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the District’s policy.

The District will actively notify households/families of the availability of the triennial progress report.

Revisions and Updating the Policy

The District will update or modify the local wellness policy based on the results of the triennial assessments and/or as District priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information and technology emerge; and new federal or state guidance or standards are issued. The local wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years following the triennial assessment.

Community Involvement, Outreach, and Communications

The District will actively communicate ways in which the community can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the local wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for the District. The District will also ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the community, and accomplished through means similar to other ways that the District and individual schools are communicating important school information with parents.

Nutrition Promotion and Nutrition Education

Nutrition promotion and nutrition education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and by encouraging participation in school meal programs. Nutrition education topics shall be integrated with consistency throughout the school environment and within the sequential, comprehensive health education program taught at every grade level, prekindergarten through grade 12, and coordinated with the District’s nutrition and food services. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by staff, teachers, parents, students and the community.

School Meals

All schools within the district participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) child nutrition programs, administered through the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and At Risk Supper programs. The District also operates additional nutrition-related programs and activities including Farm-to-School programs and school gardens.

Staff Qualifications and Professional Development

All school nutrition program staff, managers, and the program director will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA Professional Standards for Child Nutrition Professionals. A registered dietitian may be consulted for training, nutrient and menu analysis, and classroom outreach.

Water

Free, safe, unflavored, drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school campus. The district will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes.

Competitive Foods and Beverages

All foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards. These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts.

Celebrations and Rewards

All foods offered on the school campus are encouraged to meet the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards. This includes, but is not limited to, celebrations, parties, classroom snacks brought by parents, rewards and incentives.

Fund Raising

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards may be sold through fund raisers on the school campus during the school day.

Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards.

“Food and beverage marketing” is defined as advertising and other promotion in schools. Food and beverage marketing often includes an oral, written or graphic statement made for the purpose of promoting the sale of a food or beverage product made by the producer, manufacturer, seller or any other entity with a commercial interest in the product.

Physical Activity

Physical activity should be included in the school’s daily education program for grades pre-K through 12 and include regular, instructional physical education, as well as co-curricular activities and recess.

The Board realizes that a quality physical education program is an essential component for all students to learn about and participate in physical activity. The District will develop and assess student performance standards in order to meet the ODE’s physical education content standards and state law.

Employee Wellness

The District encourages staff to pursue a healthy lifestyle that contributes to their improved health status, improved morale and a greater personal commitment to the school’s overall wellness program. Many actions and conditions that affect the health of staff may also influence the health and learning of students. The physical and mental health of staff is integral to promoting and protecting the health of students and helps foster their academic success.

The District will work with community partners to identify programs, services and/or resources to complement and enrich employee wellness endeavors.

Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness

The district will integrate wellness activities throughout the entire school environment districtwide, not just in the cafeterias, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities. The district will coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicated and work toward the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes. Educational workshops, screenings and literature related to healthy food choices and physical activity may be offered to families.

REPORTS

None.

ATTACHMENTS

None.

END OF POLICY

REFERENCES / COMMENTS

Bethel Administrative Rule EFA: District Wellness Program

Legal Reference(s):

ORS 329.496

ORS 332.107

ORS 336.423

OAR 581-051-0100