Business and Non-instructional Operations
Food Service/Child Nutrition Program – Wellness Policy
The Governing Board recognizes that students need adequate, nourishing food in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. It further recognizes that significant research indicates a positive relationship between adequate nutrition and learning resulting in academic success. Food and beverages available through the district’s food service program shall be carefully selected so as to contribute to students’ nutritional well-being and meet or exceed nutritional standards specified in law and administrative regulation.
The district will, as resources are available, provide adequate resources (personnel, equipment, ongoing maintenance, technology) to implement the Wellness Policy.
All employees of the district will support the implementation of the Wellness Policy.
Parents/guardians will be encouraged to support the district’s nutrition education efforts by considering nutritional quality when selecting any snacks, which they may donate for occasional special events.
The principal/designee at each school site shall be responsible for implementation and evaluation of the policy on an annual basis. The measures to evaluate may include: but not limited to, an analysis of the nutritional content of meals served; student participation rates in school meal programs; any sales of non-nutritious foods and beverages in fundraisers or other venues outside the district’s meal programs; and feedback from food service personnel, school administrators, the school health council, parents/guardians, students, and other appropriate persons.
QUALITY OF FOOD
The Governing Board recognizes that students need adequate, nourishing food in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. The Board desires to provide students with adequate time to eat meals. To reinforce the district’s nutrition education program, the superintendent or designee shall ensure that food available on school premises shall:
- Be carefully selected so as to contribute to student’s nutritional well being and the prevention of hunger and disease.
- Meet or exceed nutritional standards specified by the United States Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Education, School Nutrition Program for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.
- Provide a monthly variety of health choices through offer versus serve at all sites taking into consideration various ethnic foods.
- Be prepared in ways that will appeal to students, retain nutritive quality and foster lifelong healthy eating habits.
- Be served in age-appropriate quantities as allowed by law.
- Be sold at reasonable prices as required by law.
Food Service/Child Nutrition Program – Wellness Policy (cont.)
Parents/guardians are encouraged to support the district’s nutrition education efforts by considering nutritional quality when selecting any snacks that they may donate for occasional class parties. Policy set forth herein does not apply to food brought from home for individual consumption.
The Board desires to provide students with adequate time to eat meals. To the extent possible, school and transportation schedules shall be designed to encourage participation in school meal programs.
The Superintendent or designee shall periodically review the adequacy of school facilities for cafeteria eating and food preparation. School cafeterias shall comply with the sanitation and safety requirements of the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law as set forth in Health and Safety Code. 113700-114455
Professional development for food service personnel shall include nutrition education and safe food handling.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that food sales by school-related groups and the use of vending machines are in compliance with state and federal law and do not impair student participation in the district’s food service program.
The Board shall adopt nutrition guidelines selected by the district for all foods available on each campus during the school day, with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity. (42 USC 1751 Note)
All food available to students on school premises during school hours, including food sold by the Food Service Department, through vending machines and by student sales will meet or exceed nutritional standards established by SB12.
Students may be periodically involved in the tasting and marketing of healthy foods that appeal to students.
Healthy food choices (fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products) should be promoted in school activities involving staff and students.
STUDENT ACCESS
All school campuses will ensure that each student will have access to healthy food choices offered at all school sites.
The district shall attempt to ensure that all eligible children qualify for free and reduced meals.
Foods and beverages provided through federally reimbursable school meal programs shall meet or exceed federal regulations and guidance issued pursuant to 42 USC 1758 (f)(1), 1766(a), and 1779(a) and (b), as they apply to schools. (42 USC 1751 Note)
Food Service/Child Nutrition Program – Wellness Policy (cont.)
In order to maximize the district’s ability to provide nutritious meals and snacks, all district schools shall participate in available federal school nutrition programs to the extent possible, including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, as well as afterschool snack & supper and summer programs.
MAINTENANCE OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
All school sites will provide an environment where healthful eating behaviors are the norm and are modeled and reinforced.
Adequate space in a pleasant surrounding will be provided so that students can be encouraged to eat a nutritious meal.
The Superintendent or designee will ensure practices are in place to foster mutual respect between school food service personnel and students.
CONTRACT
All contacts between the district and outside agencies shall conform to standards required by law and shall be prepared under the direction of the Superintendent or designee.
The district shall not enter into or renew a contract for the sale of foods that do not meet the nutritional standards specified on Education Code 49431 or 49431.2 unless the contract specifies that such sales will occur later than one-half hour after the end of the school day and/or off school premises.
HEALTH EDUCATION, PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Board shall adopt policy for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the district determines appropriate. (42 USC 1751 Note) (EC Section 51210)
The district’s nutrition education and physical education programs shall be based on research, consistent with the expectations established in the state’s curriculum frameworks, and designed to build the skills and knowledge that all students need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition Education should be age appropriate, following the United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans, California Department of Education State Frameworks in Health and Home Economics Careers and Technology Model Curriculum Standards.
The Governing Board recognizes the positive benefits of physical activity for student health and academic achievement and encourages each student to take advantage of the various opportunities for physical activity offered by the District. Each school site will enforce existing physical education requirements and ensure students engage in healthful levels of physical activity.
Food Service/Child Nutrition Program – Wellness Policy (cont.)
All students in grades K-12, and in alternative educational settings, will have the opportunity, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis through physical education instruction and physical activity programs. Students will receive physical education instruction as designated (EC 51210, 51222, and 51223):
- A minimum of 200 minutes for every 10 days for students in grades 1-6
- A minimum of 400 minutes for every 10 days for students in grades 7-12
- High school students, who are exempt from two years of physical education, will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of physical education elective courses. (EC sections 51222(b) and 51241)
Students will spend at least 50 percent of physical education class time participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Opportunities for moderate to vigorous physical activity shall be provided through physical education, recess, school athletic programs, extracurricular programs, before – and after – school programs, and other structured and unstructured activities.
Nutrition and health education shall be incorporated into K-12 classroom teaching in ways that meet California Standards requirements. Teachers shall be provided with resources to integrate nutrition education into the curriculum as appropriate.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
38080-38103 Cafeteria, establishment and use
45103.5 Contracts for management consulting services; restrictions
49430-49436 Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001
49490-49493 School breakfast and lunch programs
49500-49505 School meals
49510-49520 Nutrition
49530-49536 Child Nutrition Act
49540-49546 Child care food program
49547-49548.3 Comprehensive nutrition services
49550-49560 Meals for needy students
49570 National School Lunch Act
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
113700-114455 California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
15500-15501 Food sales by student organizations
15510 Mandatory meals for needy students
15530-15535 Nutrition education
15550-15565 School lunch and breakfast programs
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
1751-1769 School lunch programs
1771-1791 Child nutrition:
1773 School breakfast program
Food Service/Child Nutrition Program – Wellness Policy (cont.)
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 7
210.1-210.31 National School Lunch Program
220.1-220.21 National school Breakfast Program
