Operations

Code - 8510

Status - Active

Adopted - May 15, 2006

Last Revised - May 17, 2021

8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the 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 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 habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools' meal programs, by supporting the development of good eating habits and 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 concerning 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 to enable students to establish good health and nutrition habits:

 Concerning nutrition education, the District shall:

Nutrition education shall be included in the Health curriculum so that instruction is sequential and standards-based and provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to lead healthy lives.

Nutrition education shall reinforce lifelong balance by emphasizing the link between caloric intake (eating) and exercise in age-appropriate ways.

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.

 Concerning physical activity, the District shall:

A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for students in K12 per the physical education academic content standards and benchmarks adopted by the State.

 The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall provide students with opportunities to learn, practice, and be assessed on developmentally appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to engage in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.

 Planned instruction in physical education shall be sufficient for students to achieve a proficient level concerning the standards and benchmarks adopted by the State.

Planned instruction in physical education shall promote participation in physical activity outside the regular school day.

The physical education curriculum shall provide sequential instruction related to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to participate in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.

Physical education classes shall provide students with opportunities to learn, practice, and be assessed on the developmentally appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to engage in lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.

The sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum shall stress the importance of remaining physically active for life.

The K-12 program shall include instruction in physical education as well as opportunities to participate in competitive and non-competitive team sports to encourage lifelong physical activity.

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

Planned instruction in physical education shall meet the needs of all students, including those who are not athletically gifted.

Planned instruction in physical education shall be presented in an environment free of embarrassment, humiliation, shaming, taunting, bullying, or harassment of any kind.

Planned instruction in physical education shall include cooperative as well as competitive games.

Planned instruction in physical education shall take into account gender and cultural differences.

On an annual basis, physical education teachers shall review and affirm receipt of the Ohio Department of Health’s concussion information sheet.

 Physical Education teachers shall remove from class participation any student who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with having sustained a concussion or head injury. The Principal and/or teacher shall notify parents or guardians about the possible concussion or head injury.

 Any student who has been removed from physical education class participation because s/he has exhibited signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with having sustained a concussion or head injury shall not be permitted to return to physical education class until the student’s condition is assessed by a physician, and the physician gives the student written clearance that it is safe to return to class.

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 lifelong physical activities like bowling, swimming, or tennis. 

Concerning other school-based activities, the District shall utilize electronic identification and payment systems, therefore, eliminating any stigma or identification of students eligible to receive free and/or reduced meals.

Free drinking water shall be available to students during designated meal times and may be available throughout the school day. 

Concerning nutrition promotion, the District shall 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.

All foods and beverages sold to students as fund-raisers outside of the school meals program during the regular and extended school day for consumption on the school campus shall meet the USDA Competitive Food regulations, the Alliance for A Healthier Generation’s Competitive Foods and Beverages Guidelines, and the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
 

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

 Per Policy 8500, entitled Food Service, the food service program shall comply with Federal and State regulations about 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.

 As outlined 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.

 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.

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.

All foods available on campus during the school day shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including competitive foods that are available to students a la carte in the dining area, as classroom snacks, from vending machines, for classroom parties, or at holiday celebrations.
 

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 regardless of unpaid meal balances and without stigma.
 

All foods available on campus at any time shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including competitive foods that are available to students a la carte in the dining area, as well as foods that are served as classroom snacks, from vending machines, for fundraisers, for classroom parties, at holiday celebrations, at concession stands, or any school-related event.

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.

 Continuing professional development shall be provided for all staff of the food service program.

 The Board designates the building principals as the individual(s) charged with operational responsibility for measuring and evaluating the District's implementation and progress under this policy. The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines necessary to implement this policy.

 The Superintendent shall appoint a District-wide Wellness Committee that includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, educational staff (including physical education teachers), school health professionals, members of the public, and school administrators to oversee the development, implementation, evaluation, and periodic update of this policy. The Wellness Committee shall be an ad hoc committee with members recruited and appointed annually. School-level health advisory teams may assist in the planning and implementation of these Wellness initiatives.

 The Wellness Committee shall be responsible for:

 Assessment of the current school environment; 

Review of the District’s Wellness policy;

Presentation of the Wellness policy to the Board for approval; 

Measurement of the implementation of the policy; and

A Recommendation for the revision of the policy is 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 shall report annually to the Board on the Wellness Committee’s progress and on its evaluation of the policy’s implementation and areas for improvement, including the status of compliance by individual schools and progress made in attaining the policy’s goals.

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