The school board promotes healthy students by supporting wellness, good nutrition, and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. The school district supports a healthy environment where students learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. By facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, schools contribute to the basic health status of students. Improved health optimizes student performance potential.
The school district will provide a comprehensive learning environment for developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors. The district encourages healthy goals to positively influence a student’s understanding, beliefs, and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity. In accordance with law and this belief, the school board commits to the following:
- Nutrition Education and Promotion: Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that helps students develop lifelong healthy eating habits;
- Physical Activity: Schools will provide students with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meets the Iowa Health Kids Act; and
- Other School Based Activities that Promote Wellness: As appropriate, schools will support students, staff, and parent/guardian efforts to maintain healthy lifestyles.
The following nutritional guidelines for food available on school campuses will be adhered to:
- Meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program will be appealing and meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by state and federal law;
- Schools providing access to healthy foods outside the reimbursable meal programs before school, during school, and 30 minutes after school shall meet the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards, at a minimum. This includes such items as those sold through a la carte lines, vending machines, student run stores, and fundraising activities;
- Snacks provided to students during the school day without charge (e.g., class parties) will meet standards set by the district in accordance with law. The district will provide parents/guardians with a list of foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards for classroom snacks and celebrations; and
- Schools will only allow marketing and advertising of foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks in School nutritional standards on campus during the school day.
The superintendent [or designee] shall implement and ensure compliance with the policy by:
- Reviewing the policy at least every three years and recommending updates as appropriate for school board approval;
- Implementing a process for permitting parents/guardians, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, administrators, and the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy;
- Making the policy and updated assessment of the implementation available to the public (e.g., posting on the district website, newsletters, etc.). This information shall include the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy and description of the progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy; and
- Developing administrative regulations, which shall include specific wellness goals and indicators for measurement or progress consistent with law and district policy.
Adopted: 8/06
Reviewed: 4/12; 7/13; 10/14
Revised: 11/17; 12/20; 10/23
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): §§ 256.7(29); 256.11(6); 81 IAC 12.5; 58.11
IASB Reference: 507.09
Mandatory Policy