6:50 School Wellness

School Wellness

Student wellness, including good nutrition and physical activity, shall be promoted in the District’s educational program, school-based 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 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

The Superintendent will ensure:

1.       Each school building complies with this policy;

2.       The policy is available to the community on an annual basis through copies of or online access to the Board Policy Manual; and

3.       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 sound nutrition for students.

·         Schools will foster the positive relationship between sound 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 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 all 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 Ill. State Board of Education (ISBE).

Goals for Other School-Based Activities

The goals for school-based activities include the following:

·         Schools will support and promote a healthy eating environment for students.

·         Schools will promote and participate in wellness activities.

·         Schools will offer other school-based activities to support student health and wellness, including coordinated events and clubs.

Nutrition Guidelines for Foods Available During the School Day; Marketing Prohibited

Students will be offered and schools will promote nutritious food and beverage choices during the school day that are consistent with Board policy 4:120, Food Services (requiring compliance with the nutrition standards specified in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) Smart Snacks rules).

In addition, in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee shall:

1.       Restrict the sale of competitive foods, as defined by the USDA, in the food service areas during meal periods;

2.       Comply with all ISBE rules; and

3.       Prohibit marketing during the school day of foods and beverages that do not meet the standards listed in Board policy 4:120, Food Services, i.e., in-school marketing of food and beverage items must meet competitive foods standards.

Competitive foods standards do not apply to foods and beverages available, but not sold in school during the school day; e.g., brown bag lunches, foods for classroom parties, school celebrations, and reward incentives.

Exempted Fundraising Day (EFD) Requests

All food and beverages sold to students on the school campuses of participating schools during the school day must comply with the “general nutrition standards for competitive foods” specified in federal law.

ISBE rules prohibit EFDs for grades 8 and below in participating schools.

The Superintendent or designee in a participating school may grant an EFD for grades 9 through 12 in participating schools. To request an EFD and learn more about the District’s related procedure(s), contact the Superintendent or designee. The District’s procedures are subject to change. The number of EFDs for grades 9 through 12 in participating schools is set by ISBE rule.

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 and/or School Breakfast Program.

Unused Food Sharing Plan

In collaboration with the District’s local health department, the Superintendent or designee will:

1.       Develop and support a food sharing plan (Plan) for unused food that is focused on needy students.

2.       Implement the Plan throughout the District.

3.       Ensure the Plan complies with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as well as accompanying guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Food Donation Program.

4.       Ensure that any leftover food items are properly donated to combat potential food insecurity in the District’s community. Properly means in accordance with all federal regulations and State and local health and sanitation codes.

Monitoring

At least every three years, the Superintendent shall 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 (a triennial report). This triennial 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

·         How the District will make the results of the assessment available to the public

·         Where the District will retain records of the assessment

·         The Board will monitor and adjust the policy pursuant to policy 2:240, Board Policy Development.

Community Involvement

The Board and Superintendent will actively invite suggestions and comments concerning the development, implementation, periodic reviews, and updates of the school wellness policy from parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators, and the community. Community involvement methods shall align their suggestions and comments to policy 2:140, Communications To and From the Board and/or the Community Engagement subhead in policy 8:10, Connection with the Community.

Recordkeeping

The Superintendent shall retain records to document compliance with this policy, the District’s records retention protocols, and the Local Records Act.

LEGAL REF.:        Pub. L. 108-265, Sec. 204, Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

42 U.S.C. §1751 et seq., Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

42 U.S.C. §1758b, Pub. L. 111-296, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

42 U.S.C. §1771 et seq., Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

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 Ill.Admin.Code Part 305, Food Program.

ISBE’s School Wellness 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)

Last PRESS Update: October 2023

First Read: December 13, 2023

Adopted: January 17, 2024