Wellness Policy
6:50 School Wellness
Student wellness, including good nutrition and physical activity, shall l be promoted in the District's educational program, school activities, and meal programs. This policy shall be interpreted consistently with Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and, the policy is available to the community on an annual basis, and that the community is informed about the progress of this policy's implementation.
Goals for Nutrition Education and Nutrition Promotion
The goals for addressing nutrition education and nutrition promotion include the following:
Schools will support and promote good nutrition for students.
Schools will foster the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.
Nutrition education will be part of the District's comprehensive health education curriculum.
See School Board Policy 6:60, Curriculum Content.
Goals for Physical Activity
The goals for addressing physical activity include the following:
Schools will support and promote an active lifestyle for students.
Physical education will be taught in al grades and shall include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students' knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle. See policies 6:60, Curriculum Content and 7:260, Exemption from Physical Education.
During the school day, all students will be required to engage in a daily physical education course, unless otherwise exempted. See policies 6:60, Curriculum Content and 7:260, Exemption from Physical Education.
The curriculum will be consistent with and incorporate relevant Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health as established by the Il. State Board of Education (ISBE).
Goals for Other School-Based Activities Designed to Promote Student Wellness
Parent Partnerships
Schools shall support parents' efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. This support shall begin in elementary school and continue through the junior high school.
Parents shall be provided information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their children's lives. This information may be provided in the form of handouts, postings on the district website, information in school newsletters, and/or presentations that focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
Consistent School Activities - Healthy Eating
Students, parents, staff and community members bringing food and beverages to school for parties/celebrations/meetings shall be encouraged to provide healthful options and shall be provided with a list of recommended food and beverage options. School based organizations shall be encouraged to raise funds through the sale of items other that food. Schools shall take efforts to promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System (MyPyamid) such as fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy foods and whole grain products.
All foods and beverages made available in the schools shall comply with federal, state and local food safety and sanitation regulations.
For the safety and security of food, access to any area involved in storage, preparation or service of food on the school campus shall be limited to authorized personnel.
Consistent School Activities and Environment
Physical education shall be provided by trained and certificated staff. All physical education teachers shall regularly participate in continuing education activities that impart the knowledge and ski ls needed to effectively promote enjoyable lifelong healthy eating and physical activity among students.
Schools are encouraged to support community partnerships with other child-serving organizations, such as the park district, to provide students with opportunities to be active.
Physical activity facilities and equipment on school grounds shall be safe.
Food or Physical Activity as a Reward or Punishment
School personnel shall be encouraged to use nonfood incentives or rewards with students and shall not withhold food from students as punishments.
School personnel shall be encouraged to not use physical activity as a punishment or withhold participation in recess or physical education as a punishment.
Nutrition Guidelines for Foods Available in Schools During the School Day
Students will be offered and schools will promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System published jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. In addition, in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee shall restrict the sale of competitive foods as defined by the food service areas during meal periods and comply with al ISBE rules.
Guidelines for Reimbursable School Meals
Reimbursable school meals served shall meet, at a minimum, the nutrition requirements and regulations for the National School Lunch Program.
Unused Food Sharing Plan
In collaboration with the District’s local health department, the Superintendent or designee will:
Develop and support a food sharing plan (Plan) for unused food that is focused on needy students.
Implement the Plan throughout the District.
Ensure the Plan complies with the Richard B. Russel National School Lunch Act, as well as accompanying guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Food Donation Program.
Ensure that any leftover food items are properly donated to combat potential food insecurity in the District’s community. Properly means in accordance with al federal regulations and State and local health and sanitation codes.
Monitoring
The Superintendent or designee shall annually provide implementation data and/or reports to the Board concerning this policy's implementation sufficient to allow the Board to monitor and adjust the policy. This report must include without limitation each of the following:
An assessment of the District's implementation of the policy
The extent to which schools in the District are in compliance with the policy
The extent to which the policy compares to model local school wellness policies
A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the policy
Community Involvement
The Superintendent or designee will invite suggestions and comments concerning the development, implementation, and improvement of the school wellness policy from community members, including parents, students, and representatives of the school food authority, school administrators, and the public through the appointment of a District Wellness Council that includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, district health professionals, and staff. The appointed wellness council shall assist with identifying strategies to assist in the implementation of the wellness policy; to offer ideas to enhance the wellness environment of the schools; and for recommending revisions to the policy as necessary.
The District Wellness Council will meet at least twice annually.
Recordkeeping
The Superintendent or designee shal retain records to document compliance with this policy.
LEGAL REF.
Pub. L. 108-265, Sec. 204, Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.
42 U.S.C. §1771 et seq ., Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
42 U.S.C. §1751 et seq ., National School Lunch Act.
42 U.S.C. §1758b, Pub. L. 111-296, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
42 U.S.C. §1779, as implemented by 7 C.F.R. §§210.11 and 210.31.
50 ILCS 205/, Local Records Act.
105 ILCS 5/2-3.139 and 5/2-3.189.
23 Il.Admin.Code Part 305, Food Program.
ISBE’s School Welness Policy Goal, adopted Oct. 2007.
CROSS REF.: 2:140 (Communications To and From the Board), 2:150 (Committees), 2:240 (Board Policy Development), 4:120 (Food Services), 5:100 (Staff Development Program), 6:60 (Curriculum Content), 7:260 (Exemption from Physical Education), 8:10 (Connection with the Community)
ADOPTED: May 22, 2006
REVISED: April 23, 2012; May 23, 2016; January 23, 2017; February 25, 2019; March 21, 2022; January 23, 2023