I've received some comments since my post on a vision for wellness earlier in the week. While that "vision" came while researching wellness policies, it is program - not a policy. That vision could be done today if the right groups will come together to start the planning.
The policy the board is considering should lay out the vision/goals and legal requirements. It should not be full of details.
The administrative rule should have the details the administration needs to comply with policy legal issues and to meet the vision/goals of the board, as outlined in the policy.
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On another topic, loosely related to nutrition, The Herald had an article about outsourcing food service on Wednesday of this week. Fellow board member Jane Sharp and I were quoted as follows:
"At Sharp’s urging, Superintendent Lynn Moody agreed to add parent and community voices.
Sharp and school board member Jim Vining said they were surprised to learn that the two people added to represent those views have close ties to the district.
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/04/18/3902947/rock-hill-schools-urged-to-be.html#storylink=cpy
Vining said he was “amazed” to hear how the committee was comprised.
“I don’t think it meets the test of community representation,” he said. “About half the committee should be people without that close a tie to the district.”
Still, Vining said he values the committee members’ judgment and expects them to “make the right decision.”
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/04/18/3902947/rock-hill-schools-urged-to-be.html#storylink=cpy
As a point of clarification, I don't have a problem with the committee or the district's process for evaluating possible food service replacements. I did have a problem saying the committee had significant community representation, something the district has not done. I do support getting community involvement whenever possible so we can reinforce these are "community" schools.
Never-the-less, the public comments did create some internal "board" discussions. Here is an example:
"It's nice to see we have started having our meetings on the front page. This is not the way to air this out. At least it is not the way we have worked through these things in the past.
By the way, you both seem to think this is going to be some kind of panacea for our kid's health. You both would be wrong.
It is out of line to beat up the administration in the paper. Maybe you should have the guts enough to do it when we are all together."
What I like about this board member is you pretty much always know where they stand - which is a good thing. They raise some good questions. Should board members discuss issues outside of meetings? Should board members ever talk to the press? The chair is the only "official" spokesperson for the board. Questions the board should try to resolve at a retreat sometime.
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The proposed wellness policy will be up for second and final vote at this Monday's School Board work session. A little over a month ago, I sent the administration this recommendation, which is basically the SC State School Board Model Policy with a few revisions:
Policy
WELLNESS POLICY
Code ADF Issued Draft 2012
Purpose: To establish the basic structure for the
promotion of wellness in all schools in the district.
The Rock Hill School District is
committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects
children’s health, well-being and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating
and physical activity.
The District will ensure the following.
- Child nutrition programs (e.g., school lunch,
school breakfast, after school snack and summer food service programs) will
comply with federal, state and local requirements and will be accessible to all
children.
- Qualified child nutrition professionals will
provide all students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious and
appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students.
- All foods and beverages sold or served on campus
will comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- All foods made available on campus will adhere
to food safety and security guidelines.
- The school environment will be safe, comfortable
and pleasing and will allow ample time and space for eating meals.
- Nutrition education will be offered as a part of a sequential, comprehensive standards-based
health education program designed to provide students with the knowledge and
skills necessary to promote and protect their health.
- Students will be given opportunities for
physical activity during the school day through physical education (PE)
classes, daily recess periods for elementary school students, physical activity
breaks and the integration of physical activity into the academic
curriculum.
- Schools will not withhold
food or beverages as a punishment.
- Local wellness policy goals will be considered
in planning all school-based activities (such as school events and field study trips.
- The district will maintain a Coordinated School
Health Advisory Council (CSHAC) to assess, plan, implement and monitor district
and school health policies and programs. The council will be comprised of
members of the community, school representatives, students, parents, district
food service employees, district health education and physical education
coordinators, district nursing coordinators and school
board members.
- Schools should have a local coordinated school
health committee comprised of students, physical
education, health education and classroom teachers; school food services
managers; health services personnel; guidance personnel; families; administrators
and community members to plan, implement and improve nutrition and physical
activity in the school environment in accordance with the district wellness
policy.
Adopted
Legal
references:
A. Federal
Legislation:
1.
The Child Nutrition and WIC
Reauthorization Act of 2004.
B. S.C Code of Laws, 1976, as
amended:
- Students Health and Fitness Act of 2005 (Chapter 10 of Title 59:
Physical Education, School Health Services and Nutritional Standards -
Sections 1, 2 and 3).
- Section 59-29-80 - Courses in physical education; ROTC programs.
- Section 59-29-100 - Supervision of administration of physical
education program by state superintendent
of education.
- Section 59-32-30 (A)(1)-(3) - Local school boards to implement
comprehensive health education program; guidelines and restrictions.
C. State Board of Education
Regulations:
- R-43-168 - Nutrition standards for elementary (K-5) school food
service meals and competitive foods.
- R-43-231 - Defined program, grades K-5.
- R-43-232 - Defined program, grades 6-8.
- R-43-234 - Defined program, grades 9 -
12.
- R-43-238 - Health education
requirements.
D. State
Board of Education Academic Standards:
- 2009 SC Health and Safety Education
Academic Standards.
- 2008 SC Physical Education Academic
Standards.
E.
Other references:
- National Standards for Physical
Education, NASPE (National Association for Sport and Physical Education).
- National Health Education Standards,
Joint Committee on National Health Education Standards.
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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This proposal below is what is being submitted for approval. I like the simplicity of it and can support with some criteria on make-up and use of the council.
Policy
SCHOOL WELLNESS
Code ADF Issued DRAFT March 2012
Updated after
School Board Meeting 4-9-12
Purpose: To establish the board’s vision
for nutrition, physical activity and other wellness activities in the district
schools in order to provide an environment that enhances learning and
development of lifelong wellness practices for students and
district staff.
The board
believes that a goal of public education is to assist all students in reaching
their full potential and that a student’s health impacts his/her school
attendance, readiness to learn, potential for learning and academic
achievement.
Therefore,
the school district is committed to a sound, comprehensive health education
program that is an integral part of each student’s general education. Major
components of health education are nutrition, physical activity, and
tobacco-use avoidance.
Coordinated School Health Advisory Council
The school district and/or individual schools within the district will
create and work continually with a Coordinated School Health Advisory Council
to develop, monitor, review and revise policies on school nutrition, health,
and physical activity and includes the district wellness policies. This will be done in accordance to SC
Code of Laws, Section 59-10-330.
Proposed March 2012
Legal references:
A.
Federal
Legislation:
1.
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act
of 2004.
2.
Public
Law 103-448, Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act, 1994.
3.
NASPE
standards.
4. USDA/FNS guidelines for nutritional integrity of school
meals.
B.
S.C Code of Laws, 1976,
as amended to include Chapter 10 of Title 59, Students Health and Fitness Act of 2005:
1.
Title
59 of the 1976 Code as amended: Physical
Education, School Health Services and Nutritional Standards - Sections 1,2, and
3.
2.
SC Code of Laws, Section
59-10-330 and SC Code of Laws, Section 59-20-60
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