The Emmetsburg Board of Education is committed to the optimal development of every student. The board believes for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, there needs to be a safe and health-promoting learning environment at every level, in every setting.

The school district provides a comprehensive learning environment for developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors.  The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school district goals to positively influence a student's understanding, beliefs and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity.  In accordance with law and this belief, the board commits to the following:

 The school district will identify at least one goal in each of the following areas:

• Nutrition Education & Promotion: Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that helps students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

• Physical Activity: Schools will provide students with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meet the Healthy Kids Act.

• Other School Based Activities that Promote Wellness: As appropriate, schools will support students, staff and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

 The following nutritional guidelines for food available on school campuses will be adhered to:

• Meals served through the National School Lunch & School Breakfast Program will be appealing and meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by state and federal law;

• Schools providing access to healthy foods outside the reimbursable meals programs before school, during school and 30 minutes after school shall meet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards, at a minimum. This includes such items as those sold through ala carte lines, vending machines, student run stores and fundraising activities;

• Snacks provided to students during the school day without charge (ie class parties) will meet standards set by the district in accordance with law. The district will provide parents a list of foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards for classroom snacks and celebrations; and

• Schools will only allow marketing and advertising of foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks in school nutrition standards on campus during the school day.

 The superintendent or superintendent’s designee shall implement and ensure compliance with the policy by:

• Reviewing the policy at least every three years and recommending updates as appropriate for board approval;

• Implementing a process for permitting parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, administrators and the public to participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the policy;

• Making the policy and updated assessment of the implementation available to the public (e.g. posting on the website, newsletters, etc). This information shall include the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy and a description of progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy.

NOTE: This is a mandatory policy.

NOTE: The Iowa Department of Education has tools and resources available to help districts with progress reports and other aspects of policy implementation and review on the School Wellness Policy webpage.

NOTE: School districts are required by federal law to have at least one wellness goal in each of the goal areas identified in paragraph three of the sample policy. These goal areas include the following: nutrition promotion and education, physical activity and other school based activities that promote student wellness. School district should select goals to include in the regulation (507.9R) from the options provided in the sample regulation (507.9R1) or identify a district specific goal. Districts must remember the sample policy and sample regulation cannot be adopted in the current format. School boards and administration must make a choice for all text in italicized brackets.

 

Legal Reference: 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.

42 U.S.C. §§ 1771 et seq.

Iowa Code §§ 256.7 (29); 256.11(6)

281 I.A.C. 12.5; 58.11

Cross Reference: 504.5  Student Fund Raising

504.6  Student Activity Program

710     School Food Services

 

Approved 6/19/2006              Reviewed  10/20/2021              Revised  03/20/2023