Republic-Michigamme School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Republic-Michigamme 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 concludes 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:

     
 

1.

Nutrition education shall be included in the sequential, comprehensive Health curriculum in accordance with the curriculum standards and benchmarks established by the State.

     
 

2.

Nutrition education standards and benchmarks shall be age-appropriate and culturally relevant.

     
 

3.

Nutrition education posters, such as the Food Pyramid Guide, will be displayed in the cafeteria.

     
 

B.

With regard to physical activity, the District shall:

     
 

1.

Physical Education

     
 

a.

A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for students in K-12 in accordance with the standards and benchmarks established by the State.

     
 

b.

Properly certificated, highly qualified teachers shall provide all instruction in physical education.

     
 

c.

Planned instruction in physical education shall teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.

     
 

2.

Physical Activity

     
 

a.

Physical activity should not be employed as a form of discipline or punishment.

     
 

b.

All students in grades K-5, may be provided with a daily recess period at least twenty (20) minutes in duration. Recess shall not be used as a reward or punishment.

     
 

c.

All students in grades 7-12 shall have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports programs.

     
 

C.

With regard to other school-based activities the District shall:

     
 

1.

The schools shall provide at least twenty (20) minutes daily for students to eat.

     
 

2.

The schools shall schedule mealtimes so there is minimum disruption by bus schedules, recess, and other special programs or events.

     
 

3.

The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.

     
 

4.

The schools may provide opportunities for staff, and other community members to model healthy eating habits by dining with students in the school dining areas.

     
 

5.

Students are discouraged from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some students' diets.

     
 

D.

With regard to nutrition promotion, any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus, during the school day, will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.

     
 

Additionally, the District shall:

     
 

1.

encourage students to increase their consumption of healthful foods during the school day;

     
 

2.

create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits, including offering the following healthy foods that comply with the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards:

     
 

a.

a variety of fresh produce to include those prepared without added fats, sugars, refined sugars, and sodium;

     
 

b.

a variety of vegetables daily to include specific subgroups as defined by dark green, red/orange, legumes, and starchy;

     
 

c.

whole grain products - half of all grains need to be whole grain-rich upon initial implementation and all grains must be whole grain-rich within two (2) years of implementation;

     
 

d.

fluid milk that is fat-free (unflavored and flavored) and low-fat (unflavored);

     
 

e.

meals designed to meet specific calorie ranges for age/grade groups;

     
 

f.

eliminate trans-fat from school meals;

     
 

g.

require students to select a fruit or vegetable as part of a complete reimbursable meal;

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, including but not limited to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, as well as to the fiscal management of the program.

     
 

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).

     
   

The sale of foods of minimal nutritional value in the food service area during the lunch period is prohibited.

 
 

C.

The sale of foods and beverages to students that do not meet the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards to be consumed on the school campus during the school day is prohibited.

     
 

D.

All food items and beverages available for sale to students for consumption on the school campus (any area of property under the jurisdiction of the school that is accessible to students during the school day) between midnight and thirty (30) minutes after the close of the regular school day shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, including, but not limited to, competitive foods that are available to students a la carte or as entrees in the dining area (except entree items that were offered on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) menu on the day of and the day after they are offered on the NSLP or SBP menu), as well as food items and beverages from vending machines, from school stores, or as fund-raisers, including those operated by student clubs and organizations, parent groups, or boosters clubs.

     
 

E.

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.

     
 

F.

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.

     
 

G.

The school food service program may involve students, parents, staff, and/or school officials in the selection of competitive food items to be sold in the schools.

     
 

H.

All food service personnel shall receive pre-service training in food service operations.

     
 

I.

All food and beverages that are provided by the Food Service Program, other than through student sale, on the school campus during the school day shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The Board designates the Superintendent and Food Service Director as the individual(s) charged with operational responsibility for verifying that the District meets the goals established in this policy.

The Superintendent shall appoint a District wellness committee that meets at least two (2) times per year and includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, educational staff (including health and physical education teachers), mental health and social services staff, school health professionals, members of the public and school administrators to oversee development, implementation, evaluation and periodic update of the wellness policy. The Wellness Committee shall be an ad hoc committee with members recruited and chosen annually.

The Wellness Committee shall be responsible for:

 

A.

assessment of the current school environment;

   
 

B.

review of the District’s wellness policy;

   
 

C.

recommendation for the revision of the policy, as necessary.

Before the end of each school year the Wellness Committee shall recommend to the Superintendent any revisions to the policy it deems necessary and/or appropriate.

The Superintendent is also responsible for informing the public, including parents, students and community members, on the content and implementation of this policy. In order to inform the public, the Superintendent shall distribute information at the beginning of the school year to families of school children; include information in the student handbook; and post the policy on the District’s website, including the Wellness Committee's assessment of the implementation of the policy.

The District shall assess the Wellness Policy at least once every three (3) years on the extent to which schools in the District are in compliance with the District policy, the extent to which the District policy compares to model wellness policies, and the progress made in attaining the goals of the District Wellness Policy. The assessment shall be made available to the public on the School District’s web site.

42 U.S.C. 1751, Sec. 204
42 U.S.C. 1771

Revised 1/28/15
Revised 7/19/17

© Neola 2017