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Policies

On June 30, 2004, Congress passed Section 204 of Public Law 108-265, of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This law requires each local education agency participating in a program, authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 USC 1751 et.seq.) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 USC 1771 et.seq.), to establish a local school Wellness Policy by July 1, 2006. In 2010, additional requirements were set forth under Section 204 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. This policy incorporates Federal Law as well as Chapter 5P-1.003(2)(d) and Chapter 5P-2.002 of Florida Administrative Code (FAC). 

 

Philosophy and Commitment:

 

The School Board of Citrus County believes that by providing access to healthy foods and opportunities to be physically active, a framework is established that promotes good health, not only to the students, but to the employees as well.  Good health fosters student attendance, performance, and achievement.  Healthy staff can more effectively perform their assigned duties and model appropriate wellness behaviors for students.  The Citrus County School District is committed to create school environments that provide such access, as well as opportunities that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and their ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.

 

  1. Local School Wellness Policy Leadership
  1. The Citrus County School Board will assemble a representative wellness committee that will meet bi-annually to monitor and set goals for the development and implementation of its local school Wellness Policy. The policy shall be reviewed annually and an updated copy shall be sent to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services when a change or revision is made as required by K-20 Education Code 1003.453.
  1. The District Wellness Committee Chairperson shall ensure overall compliance with the local school Wellness Policy.
     
  2. Parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators, and the general public shall be encouraged to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the local school Wellness Policy.
     
  1. Each school within the District will establish an ongoing Healthy School Team that will meet bi-annually to ensure compliance and to facilitate the implementation of the District’s Wellness Policy.
  1. The school principal and local school staff shall have the responsibility to comply with federal and state regulations as they relate to the District’s Wellness Policy.
     
  2. In each school, the designee will be responsible for establishing the Healthy School Team that will ensure compliance with the policy.
     
  3. The Healthy School Team should include, but not be limited to, the following stakeholders: parents, students, Food and Nutrition Services representatives, school administrators, school health professionals, physical education teachers and the general public.
     
  1. The Healthy School Team is responsible for:
  1. Ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations for competitive food and beverage items sold on the school campus (7 CFR 210.11 and FAC 5P-1.003);
     
  2. Maintaining a school calendar identifying the dates when exempted competitive food fundraisers will occur in accordance with the frequency specified in paragraph (c) of FAC 5P-1.003;
     
  3. Reporting its school’s compliance of the aforementioned regulations to the District’s Wellness Committee Chairperson, the person responsible for ensuring overall compliance with the District’s Wellness Policy.
     
  1. Student Wellness
  1. Sound nutrition supports student physical growth, brain development, emotional stability, and improves academic performance. Nutrition promotion can positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by creating food environments that encourage healthy food choices and encourage participation in the school meal programs.
  1. Foods and beverages sold during the school day will meet the nutritional standards of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010.
     
  2. Qualified child nutrition professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students, and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings with adequate time for the students to eat.
     
  3. The schools in our District may participate in available federal school meal programs including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Summer Food Service Program, and offer an After School Snack Program.
     
  4. The school environment, including the cafeteria and classroom, shall provide clear and consistent messages that promote and reinforce healthy eating.
     
  5. Free, drinkable water must be made readily available to children during lunch.
     
  6. Menu and product selection shall utilize student, parent, staff and community advisory groups whenever possible. Menus are posted in the schools, announced via school media productions, and posted on websites, included in monthly newsletters and local news media. 
     
  7. Students will be provided a minimum of 20 minutes to consume their lunch meal. 
     
  1. Physical Activity

The District shall ensure that physical activity is an essential element of each school’s instructional program.  The program shall provide the opportunity for all students to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to participate in a lifetime of physical activity.

  1. All elementary school students will have at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity.  Each school will provide space, equipment, and an environment conducive to safe and enjoyable play.
     
  2. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in physical activity through physical education programs, before and after school activities or other activity programs.  Students will be encouraged to participate in community-offered fitness and athletic programs.
     
  3. Staff will be encouraged to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans established by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.  Staff will be informed of the opportunity to participate in physical activity in afterschool programs and community events.
     
  1. Other School Based Activities

The Local Education Authority (LEA) will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting.  These initiatives will include nutrition, physical activity, and other wellness components so that all efforts work towards the same set of goals and objectives used to promote students’ well-being, optimal development, and strong educational outcomes.

 

Health Services

 

A coordinated program of accessible health services shall be provided to students and staff and shall include, but not be limited to, violence prevention, school safety, communicable disease prevention, health screening, including body mass index, community health referrals, immunizations, parenting skills and first aid/CPR training.

 

Use of School Facilities Outside of School Hours

 

Each school will allow the use of school facilities outside of school hours for physical programs offered by community-based organizations and for the school community’s use.

 

Employee Wellness

 

All Staff will be provided with information about opportunities to participate in physical activities and healthy eating programs that are accessible and free or low-cost.

 

Physical Activity and Punishment

 

School staff should not use physical activity or withhold opportunities for physical activity (e.g., recess, physical education) as discipline during the school day.

 

Safe Routes to School

 

  1. The District will access and, if necessary and to the extent possible, make needed improvements to make it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to school.  When appropriate, the District will work together with local public works, public safety, and/or sheriff’s department in those efforts.
     
  2. The District will explore the availability of federal “Safe Routes to School” funds, administered by the State Department of Transportation, to finance such improvements.
     
  1. Vending Machines/Fundraising
  1. Vending Machines

The sale of food and beverage items to students in competition with the District’s food service program is prohibited, including those items classified as “foods of minimum nutritional value” as listed in the Code of Federal Regulations 21. Provided, however, school organizations approved by the School Board are permitted to sell these items only in secondary schools thirty (30) minutes following the close of the last lunch period.  Proceeds from the sale of foods and beverages items during the school day shall accrue to the school approved by the School Board.
 

  1. Fundraising 
  1. Fundraising efforts will be supportive of healthy eating by complying with all applicable regulations and nutrition standards for competitive foods while also emphasizing the sale of nonfood items. 
     
  2. No fundraisers that include the sale of food items will occur until thirty (30) minutes after the conclusion of the last designated meal service period. 
     
  3. The School Board is permitted to grant a special exemption from the standards for competitive foods as specified below for the purpose of conducting infrequent school-sponsored fundraisers, not to exceed the following maximum number of school days per school campus each school year: 

School - Type Maximum Number of School Days to Conduct Exempted Fundraisers

  • Elementary Schools - 5 days
     
  • Middle/Junior High Schools - 10 days
     
  • Senior High Schools - 15 days
     
  • Combination Schools - 10 days
     
  1. Each school's Healthy School Team will maintain a school calendar identifying the dates when exempted competitive food fundraisers will occur. (FAC 5P-1.003)
     
  1. Policy for Food and Beverage Marketing

School-based marketing will be consistent with policies for nutrition education and health promotion. As such the following guidelines apply:

 

Schools will only be allowed to market and advertise those foods and beverages that meet or exceed USDA's Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. 

 

  1. Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School

Competitive Food Sales

  1. All foods and beverages sold on the school campus to students outside of reimbursable school meals are considered “competitive foods,” and must comply with the nutrition standards for competitive food as defined and required in 7 CFR 210.11. 
     
  2. School campus means, for the purpose of competitive food standards implementation, all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day.
     
  3. School day means, for the purpose of competitive food standards implementation, the period from the midnight before until 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. 
     
  4. The Food and Nutrition Services department, Vending Companies, and School Stores will comply with the provisions set forth in Federal law Florida’s Competitive Food Rule 5P-1.003 regarding the sale of competitive food and foods of minimal nutritional value.  The Food and Nutrition Services department and approved Vending Companies shall be the sole provider of food and beverage items sold in all schools until thirty (30) minutes following the last lunch period, at which time other school organizations may begin to sell food and beverage items in accordance with the School Board’s Wellness Policy and with principal approval. 
     
  5. Accordingly, all foods and beverages for sale to students on campus from vending machines, from school stores, or as fund-raisers by student clubs and organizations, parent groups, or boosters shall comply with the current USDA dietary guidelines for Americans and the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools regulations, applicable State law, and Florida Administrative Code rule, and shall only be available between thirty (30) minutes following the last school lunch period until thirty (30) minutes after the close of the regular school day.
     
  6. Unless being sold by the Citrus County School District food service program, it is impermissible for any competitive food item sold to students during the school day to consist of ready-to-eat combination foods of meat or meat alternative and grain products, as defined in 7 CFR 210.10 and 210.11 (FAC 5P-1.003). 
     
  7. Soft drinks containing sugar may not be sold to students during the school day, except at the Withlacoochee Technical College. 
     
  1. Food and Beverages available to students during the school day that are NOT sold.
  1. The school will provide parents and teachers access to a list of ideas for healthy celebrations/parties, rewards, and fundraising activities.
     
  2. Healthy snacks are encouraged at all functions where food and/or beverages are provided to students. A list of recommended food items will be posted on the Food and Nutrition Services website.
     
  1. Informing the Public/Community Involvement

The District Wellness Committee will ensure the Wellness Policy and Triennial Assessments are available to the public at all times.

  

The District Wellness Committee will annually post any updates made to the Wellness Policy and the availability of the Triennial Assessment results.

  1. The District Wellness Committee will ensure the most updated version of the Wellness Policy and Triennial Assessments are always available on the school website for the public to view.
     
  2. The District Wellness Committee Chair will present Wellness Policy updates and the results of the Triennial Assessment, as applicable, during meetings with the Parent Teacher Association/Organization, School Board, District Superintendent, Health and Wellness Committee and other interested groups or stakeholders. 
     
  3. The District Wellness Committee will use electronic mechanisms, such as email or displaying notices on the District’s website, as well as non-electronic mechanisms, such as newsletters, presentations to parents or sending information home to parents, to ensure that all families are actively notified of any updates to the Wellness Policy, as well as how to get involved and support the policy.
     
  1. Record Keeping

Citrus County School District will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the local school Wellness Policy. Documentation will include, but is not limited to, the following: 

  1. The written local school Wellness Policy; 
     
  2. Documentation of the triennial assessment of the local school wellness policy for each school under its jurisdiction;
     
  3. Documentation demonstrating compliance with the public notification requirements (consistent with the section on informing/updating the public); and 
     
  4. Documentation demonstrating compliance with community involvement requirements. 

 

 

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 381.0056, 1001.41, 1001.42, 1001.43, 1003.42, 1003.429, 1003.43, 1003.455, 1006.06, 1006.0606, F.S.

LAW(S) IMPLEMENTED: CHILD NUTRITION ACT OF 1966 (42 USC 1771 et seq.) RICHARD B. RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT P.L. 108-265

USDA HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT OF 2010, PUBLIC LAW 111-296 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT (42 USC 1751 et seq.), 7 CFR part 210 and part 220

FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: Chapter 5P-1.003(2)(d) and Chapter 5P-2,002 

 

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE(S); 6A-7.040, 6A-7.041, 6A-7.042,6A-7.0411

 

 

HISTORY: ADOPTED: 04/11/2006

               REVISION DATES: 02/12/2007, 12/20/2007, 07/09/2013, 09/19/2017, 12/10/2019

               FORMERLY: 2.95, 2.95G, 8.43

 

 

 

 

 

           

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