CODE C9 (OLD F29): FEDERAL CHILD NUTRITION ACT WELLNESS POLICY

Purpose

It is the intent of the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union and its member districts to comply with the local policy requirements of the federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). In accord with those requirements, this policy has been developed in consultation with parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators and the general public.

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union and it’s member districts to establish goals for nutrition promotion and education, nutrition guidelines, physical activity and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness. The district will review and consider evidence-based strategies in determining these goals.

1. Goals for Nutrition Promotion and Education.

   • A. The school district shall provide nutrition promotion and education programs as required by state law and regulations of the State Board of Education. In particular, the district shall provide a nutrition component in its Comprehensive Health Education program and shall develop curricular programs intended to accomplish applicable goals enumerated in the Vermont Education Quality Standards.

   • B. Nutrition education and promotion programs shall be conducted by appropriately licensed staff members.

   • C. To the extent practicable, nutrition education and promotion shall be integrated into core curricula in areas such as science and family and consumer science courses.

   • D. The district will limit food and beverage marketing to the promotion of only those foods and beverages that meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards on school campus.

2. Goals for Physical Education and Physical Activity.

   • A. The district shall provide physical education classes for all students as required by Education Quality Standards.

   • B. The district shall offer opportunities for students in grades K-12 to participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity within or outside of the school day. Physical activity may include recess and movement built into the curriculum, but does not replace physical education classes.

3. Goals for Nutrition Services

   • A. The district shall ensure that guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to sections (a) and (b) of section 9A(a) and (b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act as those regulations and guidance apply to schools.

   • B. The district shall provide adequate space for eating and serving school meals.

   • C. The district shall provide a clean and safe meal environment for students.

   • D. The district shall establish meal periods that provide adequate time to eat and are scheduled at appropriate hours.

   • E. Food shall not be used in district schools as a reward or punishment.

   • F. The district shall provide training opportunities as appropriate for food service and other staff members in areas of nutrition and wellness.

   • G. Schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs shall make free potable water available to children in the meal service areas.

4. Nutrition Guidelines.

   • A. The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs will meet the requirements provided in 7 CFR 210 and 7 CFR 220 (National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Guidelines.)

   • B. All foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day will meet the USDA Smart Snacks nutrition standardsi.

   • C. School district fundraisers that occur during the school day will meet the USDA Smart Snack nutrition standardsii.

   • D. The district is required to establish nutrition guidelines for all other foods provided, but not sold to students during the school day. Foods provided but not sold may include food that is part of a classroom celebration or provided by parents or community organizations free of charge. [Districts should choose either 1 or 2 below or write their own guidelines.]

     • (1) It is the policy of the district that, when feasible, food provided but not sold should be limited to those foods that improve the diet and health of students, help mitigate childhood obesity, and model healthy choices.

5. Other School Based Activities

   • The district will implement other wellness-based school activities from time to time at the discretion of the superintendent or his or her designee. These activities will be in accordance with evidence-based strategies such as those provided in the Vermont School Wellness Policy Guidelines.

6. Assessment:

   • The District will conduct an assessment of the wellness policy every 3 years. This assessment will determine: compliance with the wellness policy, how the wellness policy compares to model wellness policies, and progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy.

7. Policy Implementation.

   • A. The district will permit parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators and the general public to participate in the development, implementation, monitoring, and periodic review and update of this policy.

   • B. The superintendent or his or her designee shall periodically monitor district programs and curriculum to ensure compliance with this policy and any administrative procedures established to carry out the requirements of this policy.

   • C. The district shall annually inform and update the public about the content and implementation of this policy, including the extent to which district schools are in compliance with this policy, the extent to which this policy compares to model local school wellness policies and a description of the progress made in attaining the goals of this policy.

   • D. The superintendent or his or her designee shall report at least annually to the board and to the public on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness. The report shall include information as to the content and implementation of this policy, and an assurance that district guidelines for reimbursable meals are not less restrictive than regulations and guidelines issued for schools in accordance with federal law.

Date Warned: October 14, 2022
Date Adopted:

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