The Shelby County Schools system is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and the development of lifelong wellness practices.

To accomplish these goals:

• School Nutrition Programs shall comply with federal, state and local requirements.
• School Nutrition Programs are accessible to all children.
• Sequential and interdisciplinary nutrition education is provided and promoted.
• Patterns of meaningful physical activity connect to students’ lives outside of physical education.
• All school-based activities are consistent with local wellness policy goals.
• All foods and beverages made available on campus (including vending, concessions, a la carte, student stores, parties, and fundraising) during the school day are consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• All foods made available on campus adhere to food safety and security guidelines.
• The school environment is safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allows adequate time and space for eating meals.

SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

An advisory council shall be established to serve as a resource to school sites for implementing policies and procedures. The council shall consist of individuals representing the school and community, including parents, students, teachers, school administrators, school board members, health professionals, school food service representatives, and members of the public. The primary responsibilities of the council include but are not limited to:

1. Developing, implementing, monitoring, reviewing and as necessary, making recommendations as to physical activity and nutrition policies;
2. Ensuring that all schools within the district create and implement an action plan related to the modules 1, 3 and 4 from the School Health Index;
3. Ensuring that school level results include measures of progress on each indicator of the School Health Index.

The Shelby County Board of Education will consider the recommendations of the School Health Advisory Council in making any policy changes that affect a healthy learning environment.

COMMITMENT TO NUTRITION

All schools shall offer school meal and snack programs with menus that meet the patterns and nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and State Board of Education’s Minimum Nutritional Standards For Individual Food Items Sold Or Offered For Sale To Pupils In Pre-K Through Eight. Each school principal or his designee shall be responsible for overseeing the school district’s compliance with the State Board of Education Rules and Regulations for sale of food items in the school district and that this Wellness Policy is being fulfilled by all schools in the district.  He/she shall register with the Department of Education.

EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF NUTRITION PROGRAM

The Shelby County Board of Education shall monitor the effectiveness of the school nutrition program within a wide-range of student constituency groups. Factors to be considered may include, but are not limited to:

1. Participation rates in school meal programs;
2. Student satisfaction surveys to monitor the effects of consumption of healthy snacks on children’s health, behavior, and school performance and to monitor satisfaction with snack choices;
3. Parent satisfaction surveys to monitor the effects of consumption of healthy snacks on children’s health, behavior, and school performance and to monitor satisfaction with snack choices;
4. Frequency and types of health problems noted on school nurse logs;
5. Frequency and types of mental health and behavioral problems noted on counselor logs;
6. Incidence of student behavior infractions;
7. Teacher surveys of student’s classroom behavior, attention span, and memory; and
8. Test scores.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The Shelby County Board of Education recognizes that physical activity is extremely important to the overall health of a child. Schools shall support and promote physical activity. Physical activity may be integrated into any areas of the school program. Physical Education classes shall be offered with moderate to vigorous physical activity being an integral part of the class. Students shall be encouraged by staff whenever possible to be physically active.

Supervised recess should be offered daily to all elementary schools children.

CURRICULUM

All applicable courses of study should be based on Lifetime Wellness Curriculum Standards, the K-8 Healthful Living Curriculum Standards, and the K-12 Physical Education Curriculum Standards.

SCHOOL HEALTH INDEX

Beginning July 1, 2006, each school will begin implementation of the School Health Index. The State Board of Education Policy on Implementation of School Health Index shall be followed by each school within the district. (See, Tenn. State Board of Ed. Physical Activity Policy, Aug. 18, 2005).

Legal References

Federal Public Law (PL 108.265 Section 204); June 30, 2004
   Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
State Board Rule Chapter 0520-1-6-.04 (TRR/MS 0520-1-6) and Other
State Board of Education, Policy 4.206, Physical Activity, August 18, 2005



Adopted: 06/15/06