Streetsboro City School District

Bylaws & Policies

8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Streetsboro City School District.

The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular activity affect the health and well being of the District's students. Furthermore, research suggests 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 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:

With regard to nutrition education, the District shall:

		1.	Nutrition education shall be integrated into other subject areas of the curriculum, when appropriate, to complement, but not replace, the standards and benchmarks for health education.
		2.	Nutrition education standards and benchmarks shall be age-appropriate and culturally relevant.
		3.	Nutrition education shall include enjoyable, developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant participatory activities, such as promotions, taste testing, and others.
		4.	Nutrition education shall extend beyond the classroom by engaging and involving the school's food service staff.
		5.	Nutrition education posters, such as the Food Pyramid Guide, will be displayed in the cafeteria.
		6.	Nutrition education standards and benchmarks promote the benefits of a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products.

With regard to physical activity, the District shall:

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.	Physical education classes shall provide students with opportunities to learn, practice, and be assessed on developmentally appropriate motor skills and social skills, as well as knowledge.
			c.	The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall stress the importance of remaining physically active for life. See a. under Physical Activity.
			d.	Planned instruction in physical education shall teach cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation.
			e.	Planned instruction in physical education shall meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.
			f.	Planned instruction in physical education shall be presented in an environment free of embarrassment, humiliation, shaming, taunting, or harassment of any kind.
			g.	Planned instruction in physical education shall take into account gender and cultural differences.

Physical Activity

			a.	Physical activity shall not be employed as a form of discipline or punishment in any credit class K - 12.
			b.	Physical activity and movement shall be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
			c.	Schools shall encourage families to provide physical activity outside the regular school day, such as outdoor play at home, participation in sports sponsored by community agencies or organizations, and in lifelong physical activities like bowling, swimming, or tennis.
			d.	The school shall encourage families and community organizations to institute programs that support physical activity of all sorts.

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

		1.	Schedule mealtimes so there is minimum disruption by bus schedules, recess, and other special programs or events.
		2.	Provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.
		3.	Activities, such as tutoring or club meetings, shall not be scheduled during mealtimes, unless students may eat during those meetings.
		4.	Students, parents, and other community members shall have access to, and be encouraged to use, the school's outdoor physical activity facilities outside the normal school day.
		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.

NUTRITION GUIDELINES FOR ALL FOODS AVAILABLE

ON CAMPUS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

	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 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).

		1.	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.
		2.	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.
		3.	All foods available to students in the dining area during school food service hours shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including competitive foods available to student a la carte or from vending machines.
		4.	The school food service program may involve students, staff, school officials in the selection of competitive food items to be sold in the schools.
		5.	The food service program shall be administered by a director who is properly qualified, or credentialed, according to current professional standards.
		6.	All cafeteria directors shall receive training in food service operations.
		7.	Continuing professional development shall be provided for all staff of the food service program.

Furthermore, with the objectives of enhancing student health and well being, and reducing childhood obesity, the following guidelines are established:

The Board designates the Superintendent as the individual(s) charged with operational responsibility for measuring and evaluating the District's implementation and progress under this policy. The Superintendent shall report on the District's compliance with this policy and the progress toward achieving the goals set forth herein when requested to do so by the Board.

Review of this policy shall be a committee consisting of a school board member, a student, a parent, a community member, two administrators, school nurse, and the food service director. The committee shall meet at the end of each school year to review the year and set direction for the next school year.

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

Revised 7/6/06