| The School Board of Collier County |
| Bylaws & Policies |
8510 - WELLNESS
The School Board is committed to providing a learning environment that supports and promotes wellness, good nutrition, an active lifestyle, and that recognizes the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.
The Board also believes that school staff members should be encouraged to model appropriate health and wellness behaviors for students. This policy encourages a comprehensive approach to staff and student wellness that is sensitive to individual and community needs.
School Food and Nutrition
Goal: Establish an environment that provides, promotes, and encourages lifelong healthy eating habits and the consumption of nutritious foods.
Academic performance and quality of life issues are affected by the choice and availability of healthy foods in schools. The consumption of healthy foods helps to support students’ physical growth, brain development, resistance to disease, emotional stability, and ability to learn.
| A. | Nutrition guidelines for all foods served or sold in schools shall encourage the use of products that are high in fiber, low in added fats, low in sugar, low in sodium, and served in appropriate portion sizes consistent with USDA standards established for all foods offered by the District’s Department of Nutrition Services and/or contracted vendors. | |
| B. | The Department of Nutrition Services policies and guidelines for reimbursable meals shall not be less restrictive than Federal and State regulations require. Menu and product selection shall utilize student, parent, staff, and community advisory groups whenever possible. Food service recommendations will be consistent with the procedures in Board Policy 8500. | |
| C. | Vending Machines: |
| 1. | All vending machines shall provide only single serving snacks. | ||
| 2. | Schools shall make healthful selections of foods and beverages consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans available in vending machines. | ||
| 3. | If beverage vending machines are available during student school hours in student areas they shall include water, 100% fruit juice, and/or non-carbonated drinks with less than 200 calories per serving. They may also include non-fat, low-fat, plain, or flavored milk or yogurt in sixteen (16) ounce or less servings. | ||
| 4. | Carbonated drinks will be unavailable to students during school hours. |
| D. | All foods served or sold to students in schools during the school day, including school and classroom celebrations, classroom activities, vending machines, school stores, athletic events, or fundraising should model a healthy lifestyle and be consistent with this policy. | |
| E. | Foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by 7 C.F.R. 210.11(2) are prohibited from being served or sold anywhere a reimbursable meal is served, sold, and/or eaten. Foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by USDA include carbonated beverages, water ices, chewing gum, hard candies, jellies and gums, marshmallow candies, fondant, licorice, spun candy, and candy coated popcorn. |
Nutrition Education
Goal: Develop the knowledge and skills in students and staff necessary to make nutritious and healthy food choices for a lifetime.
Nutrition education topics shall be integrated within the sequential, comprehensive health education program taught at every grade level, pre-kindergarten through twelve.
| A. | Nutrition education curricula shall be designed to help students experience and learn about lifelong healthy eating habits and the positive relationship between a healthy diet and good health. | |
| B. | School instructional staff shall collaborate with community and other outside agencies and groups that provide nutrition education to help send a consistent message to students and their families about the District’s commitment to health and nutrition. | |
| C. | School staff members are encouraged to model healthy eating behaviors. |
Health Education and Life Skills
Goal: Provide students the ability to demonstrate health promotion skills and disease prevention behaviors.
Healthy living skills and nutrition concepts shall be taught as part of the regular instructional program.
| A. | Each school shall provide for an interdisciplinary, sequential, skill-based health education program based upon State standards and benchmarks. | |
| B. | Students shall have access to valid and useful health information and health promotion products and services. | |
| C. | Students shall have the opportunity to practice behaviors that enhance health and/or reduce health risks. | |
| D. | Students shall be taught communication skills, goal setting, and decision making skills that enhance their personal, family, and community relationships. |
Physical Education and Activity
Goal: Provide students the opportunity to obtain the skills, knowledge, abilities, and attitudes for lifelong physical activity.
Physical education and physical activity shall be an essential element of each school’s instructional program.
| A. | Physical education for students during the normal school day shall be consistent with the current Board Policy 2280, Physical Education. | |
| B. | The use of physical activity as punishment, the withholding of participation in physical education class as punishment, or the use of physical education class time to complete assignments from other classes shall be prohibited. | |
| C. | Schools shall encourage students to spend at least sixty (60) minutes of physical activity daily outside of the school environment. | |
| D. | Schools are encouraged to offer after-school intramural programs and/or physical activity clubs that meet the needs and interests of all students. | |
| E. | Schools should encourage parents and community members to institute programs that support physical activity, such as a walk-to-school program. |
Healthy and Safe Environment
Goal: Provide safe schools and communities to promote and influence healthier lifestyles for all students and citizens.
A healthy and safe environment for all before, during, and after school helps to support academic success.
| A. | School buildings and grounds, structures, buses, and equipment shall meet all current health and safety standards (including environmental air quality) and shall be kept clean, safe, and in good repair. | |
| B. | Schools, District offices, and vehicles shall provide an environment that is free from tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. | |
| C. | Training for students and staff shall support personal safety, violence prevention, and encourage a harassment free environment. | |
| D. | Each work site, school, and classroom shall endeavor to create an environment where students, parents/guardians, and staff members are accepted, respected, and valued for their personal integrity. |
Social and Emotional Well-Being
Goal: Build a coordinated and comprehensive healthy school environment.
Programs and services shall support and value the social and emotional well being of students, families, and staff members
| A. | Each school shall provide a supportive and nurturing environment that includes school counseling services, and referrals to community resources as appropriate. | |
| B. | Students shall be provided the opportunity to express thoughts and feelings in a responsible manner. | |
| C. | Students shall be instructed in developing skills that can help them build positive interpersonal relations. | |
| D. | Students and staff shall be encouraged to balance work and recreation and will be instructed in techniques to help them become aware of stressors which may interfere with health. |
Health Services
Goal: Deliver a broad scope of health services to promote the mental, physical, and emotional health of both students and staff members.
A District sponsored healthcare services program shall offer education and services that also help to promote academic achievement and success.
| A. | Health services shall be delivered under the supervision of a professional health services coordinator with the support and direction of the Board and the Collier County Health Department. | |
| B. | The Board shall cooperate and collaborate with other community agencies and resources to promote health and wellness for students, their families, and staff. | |
| C. | Health services education activities shall include at minimum: violence prevention education, school safety awareness, parenting skills, and other appropriate and pertinent health services education topics. Delivery of services shall include at minimum: emergency health interventions, routine daily management of health conditions that affect a student’s academic performance, communicable disease prevention, student health screening, and community health referrals as appropriate. |
Family, School and Community Partnerships
Goal: Strengthen partnerships to improve both the planning and implementation of health promotion projects.
Long term effective partnerships among families, schools, and local community partners benefit both schools and the local community.
| A. | School Advisory Councils (SACs) and the community at large will have the opportunity to be included as participants in all individual school and District wellness planning processes. | |
| B. | Community partnerships shall be developed and maintained as resources to be used for individual school and District programs, projects, activities, and events. | |
| C. | Individual schools and the District at large shall actively support the engagement of students, families, and staff members in community activities and events that encourage or promote health and wellness. | |
| D. | Advertising messages should be consistent with and reinforce the goals of this policy. Advertising of foods or beverages in the areas accessible to students during meal times must be consistent with standards set forth in this policy. |
Staff Wellness
Goal: Identify health and wellness issues at each District site and help develop plans to remediate the issues.
Each District work site shall provide information about health and wellness resources and services to employees.
| A. | Each school, District site, and all District vehicles shall be in compliance with drug, alcohol, and tobacco free policies. | |
| B. | Each school and District site shall provide an accessible and productive work environment (including all vehicles) that is free from known physical dangers and emotional threats. | |
| C. | All sites will be as physically safe as possible in accordance with all applicable occupational, health and safety laws, policies, and rules. | |
| D. | Employees shall be encouraged to engage in daily physical activity before or after work hours. |
Program Monitoring
The Superintendent or designee will ensure compliance with this wellness policy. The principal or designee will ensure compliance with this policy in his/her school and will report on the school’s compliance to the Superintendent or designee. A biennial report of progress and compliance will be submitted to the Board.
Policy review
To assist with the initial development of the District’s wellness procedures, each school in the District will conduct a baseline assessment of the school’s existing nutrition and physical activity environments and procedures. The results of those school-by-school assessments will be compiled at the District level to identify and prioritize needs.
42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.
42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.
F.S. 1001.41, 1001.42, 1001.43, 1006.06, 1006.0605, 1006.0606
F.A.C. 6A-7.0411