The Springfield City School District is committed to the optimal physical and academic development of every student. For students to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, we must create positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year. The district will align health and wellness efforts with other school improvement endeavors to ensure the optimal health and academic success of all students. Research shows that proper nutrition and physical activity before, during and after the school day are strongly correlated with positive academic outcomes. For example, student participation in the School Breakfast Program is associated with higher grades and standardized test scores, lower absenteeism and better performance on cognitive tasks. Participation in physical activity breaks, physical education and extracurricular activities involving physical activity results in better academic outcomes for students. Finally, there is evidence that adequate hydration is associated with better cognitive performance. This wellness policy outlines the district’s approach to ensuring that the school environment provides opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day.

District Wellness Council

The District’s School Wellness Advisory Council (SWAC) annually reviews, and, as necessary, revises the District’s Wellness Policy. The SWAC consists of a group of individuals representing the school and community, which can include but is not limited to parents, students, members of the school board, school administrators, teachers, health professionals, and members of the public. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, the superintendent (or designee) will facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy. The SWAC will assess and complete the triennial assessment of the wellness policy at least once every three years. *Note: per USDA final rule, the names and contact information of the superintendent (or designee) and the council members will be made readily available to the public.

Accountability

Triennial Assessments (see included document linked here)

At least once every three years, the district will assess the wellness policy by measuring:

● The extent to which the wellness policy meets the requirements of the final rule

● The extent to which schools under the jurisdiction of the district are complying with the wellness policy.

● The progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy

Documentation

The district will retain records to document the presence of and compliance with the wellness policy, including but not limited to:

● The current and previous board-approved wellness policy.

● Documentation demonstrating that the wellness policy has been made available to the public

● Documentation of efforts to review and update the wellness policy, including who was involved, and how the district made stakeholders aware of their ability to participate.

Public Involvement

The district is committed to ensuring that the community is aware of and involved in the development and implementation of the wellness policy. The district will communicate the ways in which representatives of the School Wellness Advisory Council and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the wellness policy.

Nutrition Services

School Meals

Children consume as many as half of their daily calories at school. Schools play an important role in offering meals with vital nutrients while shaping students’ eating habits. Students who participate in the school meal programs have access to nutritious foods and beverages to support their growth, development and academic performance.

The USDA Child Nutrition Programs (child nutrition programs) aim to improve the health of students, help mitigate hunger and obesity and model healthy eating by providing meals that are low in fat and sodium, and abundant in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These programs support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, all schools within the district will participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)and School Breakfast Program (SBP) and will provide meals that meet the nutrition standards for school meals by including:

● Fruits and vegetables, including a variety of fruits and vegetables that meet the required vegetable subgroups (dark green, red and orange, dry beans, and peas and legumes)

● Grains (whole grain-rich)

● Meats and meat alternates

● Fat-free and low-fat milk

● Access to free drinking water

In addition:

● School meals will be accessible to all students, and the district will accommodate special dietary needs and food allergies as required by federal regulations.

● School meals will be administered by a team of qualified nutrition professionals who meet or exceed the hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements of the USDA Professional

Standards for Child Nutrition Professionals.

● The district will make every effort to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the method of payment does not identify a student as eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

● The district will provide adequate time to eat school meals, meaning that students will be allowed at least 10 minutes to eat breakfast and at least 20 minutes to eat lunch, counting from the time they have received their meal and are seated.

● Prohibit the withholding of foods as a punishment.

● Ensure that menus are created/reviewed by a Registered Dietitian or another certified nutrition professional.

● Post menus on the district website and/or individual school websites and include nutrient content and ingredients.

Water

Access to safe, free drinking water helps to increase students’ overall water consumption, maintain hydration and reduce energy intake when substituted for sugar-sweetened beverages. In addition, adequate hydration may improve cognitive function among children and adolescents, which is important for learning. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students during mealtimes where school meals are served.

The district requires that:

● Free, safe and unflavored drinking water is available to students during the school day and during the extended school day* (including during out-of-school time/and before and after school).

● Water cups/jugs are available in the cafeteria if a drinking fountain is not present

● All water sources and containers (e.g., drinking fountains, water jugs, hydration stations and water jets) will be maintained regularly to ensure adherence to health and safety standards

Competitive Foods and Beverages

Competitive foods and beverages include those items sold as à la carte and in vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts, as well as any food-based fundraising meant for consumption during the school day. These foods are called competitive foods because students may choose to eat them instead of healthier foods offered through the school meal programs. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, the district will ensure that all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating, including those provided outside of the school meal programs. All foods and beverages sold outside of the school meal programs, during the school day will, at a minimum, meet Smart Snacks. These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include but are not limited to à la carte, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts, as well as any food-based fundraising meant for consumption during the school day.

The district requires that all foods and beverages sold outside of the school meal programs during the school day and during the extended school day (including during out-of-school time/and before and after school) will, at a minimum, meet Smart Snacks.

Fundraising

Fundraising efforts provide opportunities for student, staff, family and community collaboration and reflect the healthy eating practices and policies in the district. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, the district will allow only foods and beverages that meet or exceed Smart Snacks standards to be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition education is a vital part of a comprehensive health education program and empowers children with knowledge and skills to make healthy food and beverage choices. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, the district will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating among students. Schools will provide nutrition education integrated into other subjects, as part of health education and/or offer stand-alone classes at each grade level.

Nutrition Promotion

Nutrition promotion using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages helps to create healthy food environments and positively influences lifelong healthy eating behaviors. It also helps to encourage and increase participation in school meal programs. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, the district will ensure that students and staff receive consistent nutrition messages throughout the school campus including in classrooms, gymnasiums and cafeterias. The district and all schools will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students across the school campus during the school day and will encourage participation in school meal programs.

Food and Beverage Marketing

Health and wellness efforts are weakened when students are subjected to advertising on district property that promotes unhealthy foods and beverages.

The district is committed to teaching students to make informed choices about nutrition, health and physical activity and to providing a school environment that ensures opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, all foods and beverages marketed to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed Smart Snacks.

This includes the marketing of products on:

● The exterior of vending machines

● Posters, flyers, menu boards, coolers, trash cans and other foodservice equipment

● Cups used for beverage dispensing

All foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day and during the extended school day (including during out-of-school time/and before and after school) will meet or exceed Smart Snacks. The marketing of products that do not meet Smart Snacks, in any and all of the following ways, is prohibited:

● Brand names, trademarks, logos or tags, including on cups used for beverage dispensing; menu boards; coolers; trash cans; vending machines and other foodservice equipment; posters; book covers; pupil assignment books or school supplies; uniforms; school buses and other vehicles; athletic fields or school equipment, such as marquees; message boards; scoreboards and backboards displayed distributed, offered or sold by the district

● Advertisements in school publications and school mailings; during broadcasts on school radio stations and in-school television; through digital media, such as computer screensavers; school-operated or school-sponsored websites and servers; or through the school public announcement system

● Free samples, taste tests or coupons for products

● Educational incentive programs (such as contests that use foods or beverages as a reward) including the promotion of programs that provide schools with supplies or funds when caregivers or participants purchase specific food products

Physical Activity

Children and adolescents, including children with disabilities, should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day in order to ensure optimum health. In order to be compliant with the USDA final rule, the district requires that all students receive education on the benefits of physical activity in conjunction with health (including nutrition) education.

The district prohibits the use or withholding of physical activity (including recess) as a punishment during the school day and during the extended school day (including during out-of-school time/and before and after school). The district requires that physical activity opportunities be adapted in order to make them accessible to students with disabilities.

Public Comment

Community members, parents, staff, and students are encouraged to provide feedback on the Wellness Policy and Procedures. Please use the space below to share comments, suggestions, or recommendations for consideration before final adoption.