8510 - WELLNESS

As required by law, the Board for the Durand-Arkansaw School District establishes the following wellness policy.

Policy Preamble

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 their 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 by promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.

Schools alone, however, cannot develop in students healthy behaviors and habits with regard to 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 in an effort to enable students to establish good health and nutrition choices to:

1. promote nutrition education with the objective of improving students’ health;

2. improve the health and well-being of our children, increase the consumption of healthful foods during the school day, and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits;

3. promote nutrition guidelines, a healthy eating environment, child nutrition programs, and food safety and security on each school campus with the objective of promoting student health;

4. provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, maintain physical fitness, regularly participate in physical activity, and understand the short and long-term benefits of a physically active lifestyle;

5. promote the health and wellness of students and staff through other school-based activities.

Wellness Policy Leadership

The designated official for oversight of the wellness policy is Michelle Zagozen, Director of Pupil Services. The official shall convene the Wellness Committee and lead the review, updating, and evaluation of the policy.

Required Public Involvement

The District Administrator shall obtain the input of District collaborators to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy. The collaborators may include parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, educational staff (including physical education teachers), school health professionals, Board members, members of the public, medical/health care professionals, and other school administrators.

District Wellness Committee

Committee Formation

The District shall convene a Wellness Committee that meets at least two (2) times during the school year to establish goals and oversee school health policies and programs, including development, implementation, and periodic review and update of this Wellness Policy.

Committee Representatives

The District shall invite a diverse group of collaborators to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the Wellness Policy.

Collaborators may include:

1. administrators;
2. classroom teachers;
3. physical education teachers;
4. school food service representative;
5. school nurse;
6. community member/parent.

Nutrition Standard for All Foods

The District is committed to serving healthy meals to our students. The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, model healthy eating patterns, and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs.

School Meal Programs

Standards and Guidelines for School Meal Programs

1. All meals meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established under the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. (https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-meal-pattern-chart)
2. Drinking water is available for students during mealtimes.
3. All schools in the District participate in USDA child nutrition programs.
4. All meals are accessible to all students.
5. Withholding food as a punishment shall be strictly prohibited.

School Meal Program Participation

Shall notify parents of the availability of the breakfast, lunch, and summer food programs, and shall be encouraged to determine eligibility for reduced or free meals.

Standards for Foods and Beverages Sold Outside of School Meals

All food and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (“competitive” foods and beverages) shall, at a minimum, meet the standards established in USDA’s Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools (Smart Snacks) rule. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/smartsnacks.pdf 

All food and beverages sold to students during the school day shall meet the USDA Smart Snack nutrition standards.

Foods Offered/Provided but Not Sold

The District encourages foods offered on the school campus to meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, including those provided at celebrations and parties, and classroom snacks brought by staff or family members. Non-food celebrations will be promoted, and a list of ideas is available.

Fund-Raising

Schools will restrict food and beverage marketing to only those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards set forth by USDA’s Nutrition Standards for All  Foods Sold in Schools (Smart Snacks) rule.

The District adheres to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction fundraiser exemption policy and allows two (2) exempt fundraisers per student organization per school per year. All other fundraisers sold during the school day will meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. No restrictions are placed on the sale of food/beverage items sold outside of the school day.

Marketing

Schools will restrict food and beverage marketing to only those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards set forth by USDA’s Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools (Smart Snacks) rule. Marketing includes brand names, trademarks, logos, or tags except when placed on a food or beverage product/container; displays, such as vending machine exteriors; corporate/brand names, logos, trademarks on cups, posters, school supplies, education materials, food service equipment, and school equipment (e.g. message boards, scoreboards, uniforms); advertisements in school publications/mailings; sponsorship of school activities, fundraisers, or sports teams; educational incentive programs such as contests or programs; and free samples or coupons displaying advertising of a product.

Nutrition Education

The primary goal of nutrition education is to influence students’ lifelong eating behaviors. Nutrition education, a component of comprehensive health education, shall be offered every year to all students of the District. The District aims to teach, model, encourage, and support healthy eating by providing nutrition education.

Nutrition Promotion

The District is committed to providing a school environment that encourages students to practice healthy eating and physical activity. Students shall receive consistent nutrition messages that promote health throughout schools, classrooms, cafeterias, and school media.

Physical Activity:

1. The District shall provide students with age and grade-appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity.
2. Physical activity and movement shall be integrated, when possible, across the curricula and throughout the school day.
3. All students in grades 7-12 shall have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports programs.

Physical Education

1. A sequential, comprehensive physical education program shall be provided for students in K-12 in accordance with the physical education academic content standards and benchmarks adopted by the State.

2. 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.

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

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

5. All physical education classes are taught by licensed teachers who are certified to teach physical education.

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

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

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

Other Activities That Promote School Wellness

1. Students, parents, and other community members shall have access to, and be encouraged to use, the school's outdoor physical activity facilities outside the normal school day.
2. The schools may demonstrate support for the health of all students by hosting health clinics and screenings and encouraging parents to enroll their eligible children in Medicaid or in other children's health insurance programs for which they may qualify.
    
3. Nutrition information for competitive foods available during the school day shall be readily available near the point of purchase.

Staff Wellness

The District will implement the following activities below to promote healthy eating and physical activity among school staff.

1. An organized wellness program shall be available to all staff.
2. Administration of flu shots at school.

Community Engagement

The District shall inform and invite parents to participate in school-sponsored activities throughout the year.

Additional Strategies for Consideration:

1. The schools shall schedule mealtimes so there is minimal disruption by bus schedules, recess, and other special programs or events.

2. The school shall provide attractive, clean environments in which the students eat.

3. Activities, such as tutoring or club meetings, shall not be scheduled during mealtimes, unless students may eat during those meetings.

4. The schools may use environmentally friendly practices, such as the use of locally grown foods and non-disposable tableware and dishes.

5. The schools may provide opportunities for staff, parents, and other community members to model healthy eating habits by dining with students in the school dining areas.

6. Schools in our system utilize electronic identification and payment systems, therefore, eliminating any stigma or identification of students eligible to receive free and/or reduced meals.

7. Students are discouraged from sharing their food or beverages with one (1) another during meal times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some students' diets.

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

1. In accordance with Policy 8500 - Food Service, the food service program shall comply with Federal and State regulations pertaining to the selection, preparation, consumption, and disposal of food and beverages, as well as to the fiscal management of the program.
2. As set forth in Policy 8531 - 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).

All foods available on campus during the school day shall comply with the current USDA nutrition guidelines, 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.

1. The food service program will provide all students with affordable access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to be healthy and to learn well, regardless of unpaid meal balances, without stigma.

2. The food service program will strive to be financially self-supporting; however, if it is necessary to subsidize the operation, it will not be through the sale of foods with minimal nutritional value.

3. The school shall prepare and distribute to staff, parents, and after-school program personnel a list of snack items that comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

4. The food service program shall be administered by a qualified nutrition professional.

5. The food service program shall be administered by a director who is properly qualified, certificated, licensed, or credentialed, according to current professional standards.

6. All food service personnel shall receive pre-service training in food service operations.

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

Monitoring and Evaluation - Triennial Assessment

The Wellness Committee shall evaluate compliance with the Wellness Policy no less than once every three years. The assessment will include the extent to which each school is in compliance with the policy and how the policy compares to a model policy, as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The District will use the Wisconsin Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Report Card to fulfill the triennial assessment requirement. The results of the triennial assessment will be made available to the Board and the public.

The Wellness Committee shall monitor goals and objectives for the District and compile an annual report to address the progress of the schools within the District in meeting wellness goals. 

Update/Inform the Public

The District will actively inform and update the public about the content of and any updates to the policy through the District website and Board meetings.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. E-mail: 
   program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Revised 10/25/17
Revised 4/17/19
Revised 9/15/21
Revised 3/22/23
Revised 10/23/24

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