EFA - Local Wellness Program

The district is committed to the optimal development of every student and believes that a positive, safe and health-promoting learning environment is necessary for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success.

To help ensure students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy choices for a lifetime, the superintendent shall prepare and implement a comprehensive district nutrition program consistent with state and federal requirements for districts sponsoring the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The program shall reflect the Board’s commitment to providing adequate time for instruction that fosters healthy eating through nutrition education and promotion, serving healthy and appealing foods at district schools, developing food-use guidelines for staff and establishing liaisons with nutrition service providers, as appropriate.

The input of staff (including, but not limited to, physical education and school health professionals), students, parents, the public, the Board, school administrators, representatives of the school food authority and public health professionals will be encouraged in the development of wellness policy. The superintendent or designee will develop administrative regulations as necessary to implement the goals of the local wellness plan and ensure compliance of such policy.

WELLNESS POLICY IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Implementation Plan

The district shall develop and maintain a plan to manage and coordinate the implementation of this wellness policy.

The plan will:

1.  Delineate roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to each school;
2.  Include information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and when;
3.  Include specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, and in food and beverage marketing; and
4.  Include specific goals and objectives for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.

In an effort to measure the implementation of this policy, the Board designates the district principals as the people who will be responsible for ensuring each school meets the goals outlined in this policy.

Record Keeping

The district will retain the following records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the district’s administrative offices.

1. The written wellness policy; 
2. Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public; 
3. Documentation of efforts to review and update the local wellness policy, including an indication of who is involved in the update and the methods the district uses to make stakeholders aware of their ability to participate; 
4. Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements; 
5. The most recent assessment on the implementation of the local wellness policy; 
6. Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the local wellness policy has been made available to the public.

Annual Notification of Policy

The district will make available to the public annually, an assessment of the implementation, including the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy, how the policy compares to model policy and a description of the progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy. The district will make this information available through the district website and/or districtwide communications. The district will also publicize the name and contact information of the district or school official(s) leading and coordinating the policy, as well as information on how the public can get involved with the local wellness policy.

Triennial Progress Assessments

At least once every three years, the district will evaluate compliance with the local wellness policy, to assess the implementation of the policy and produce a triennial progress report that will include:

1. The extent to which schools under the jurisdiction of the district are in compliance with the policy; 
2. The extent to which the district’s policy compares to model wellness policy; and 
3. A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the district’s policy.

The district will actively notify households/families of the availability of the triennial progress report.

Revisions and Updating the Policy

The district will update or modify the local wellness policy based on the results of the [annual School Health Index1 and] triennial assessments and/or as district priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information and technology emerge; and new federal or state guidance or standards are issued. The local wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years following the triennial assessment.

Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications

The district will actively communicate ways in which the community can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the local wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for the district. The district will also ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the community, and accomplished through means similar to other ways that the district and individual schools are communicating important school information with parents.

NUTRITION PROMOTION AND NUTRITION EDUCATION

Nutrition promotion and nutrition education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and by encouraging participation in school meal programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the school environment. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by staff, teachers, parents, students and the community.

School Meals

All schools within the district participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) child nutrition programs, administered through the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP). The district also operates additional nutrition-related programs and activities including Mobile Breakfast carts or Grab ‘n’ Go Breakfast.

Staff Qualifications and Professional Development

All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA Professional Standards for Child Nutrition Professionals.

Water

Free, safe, unflavored, drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school campus. The district will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes.

Competitive Foods and Beverages

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 or exceed the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards[1]. These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts.

Celebrations and Rewards

All foods offered on the school campus are encouraged to meet the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards. This includes, but is not limited to, celebrations, parties, classroom snacks brought by parents, rewards and incentives.

Fundraising

Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day.

Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed the nutrition standards set by the USDA and the Oregon Smart Snacks Standards.

“Food and beverage marketing” is defined as advertising and other promotion in schools. Food and beverage marketing often includes an oral, written or graphic statement made for the purpose of promoting the sale of a food or beverage product made by the producer, manufacturer, seller or any other entity with a commercial interest in the product.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical activity should be included in the school’s daily education program for grades pre-K through 12 and include regular, instructional physical education, as well as co-curricular activities and recess.

Physical activity during the school day (including, but not limited to, recess, classroom physical activity breaks or physical education) will not be withheld as punishment for any reason.

The Board realizes that a quality physical education program is an essential component for all students to learn about and participate in physical activity. The district will develop and assess student performance standards and program minute requirements in order to meet the ODE’s physical education content standards and state law. Every public school student in kindergarten through grade 8 shall participate in physical education for the entire school year. Students in kindergarten through grade 5 shall participate for a least 150 minutes during each school week, and students in grades 6 through 8 for at least 225 minutes per school week. At least 50 percent of the weekly physical education class time shall be devoted to actual physical activity. Instruction, provided by adequately prepared teachers, will meet the state adopted academic content standards for physical education (Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 329.045). Teachers of physical education shall regularly participate in professional development activities.

A student with a disability shall have suitably adapted physical education incorporated as part of their individualized education program (IEP) developed under ORS 343.151. A student who does not have an IEP but has chronic health problems, other disabling conditions or other special needs that preclude them from participating in regular physical education instruction, shall have suitably adapted physical education incorporated as part of their individualized health plan, developed by the district.

Employee Wellness

The district encourages staff to pursue a healthy lifestyle that contributes to their improved health status, improved morale and a greater personal commitment to the school’s overall wellness program. Many actions and conditions that affect the health of staff may also influence the health and learning of students. The physical and mental health of staff is integral to promoting and protecting the health of students and helps foster their academic success. The district’s Employee Wellness Program will promote health, reduce risky behaviors of employees and identify and correct conditions in the workplace that can compromise the health of staff, reduce their levels of productivity, impede student success and contribute to escalating health-related costs such as absenteeism.

The district will work with community partners to identify programs, services and/or resources to compliment and enrich employee wellness endeavors.

Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness

The district will integrate wellness activities throughout the entire school environment (districtwide), not just in the cafeterias, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities. The district will coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complimentary, not duplicated and work toward the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes.

END OF POLICY

1 Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Smart Snacks Standards

Legal Reference(s)