Eastern York School District recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to students' physical well-being, growth, development and readiness to learn. The Board is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education and promotion, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.

The Board adopts this policy based on the recommendations of the Wellness Committee and in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.[1][2][3]

To ensure the health and well-being of all students, the Board establishes that the District shall provide to students:

1. A comprehensive nutrition program consistent with federal and state requirements.

2. Access at reasonable cost to foods and beverages that meet established nutrition guidelines.

3. Physical education courses and opportunities consistent with state requirements for developmentally appropriate physical activity during the school day.

4. Curriculum and programs for grades K-12 that are designed to educate students about proper nutrition and lifelong physical activity, in accordance with State Board of Education curriculum regulations and academic standards.

The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for the implementation and oversight of this policy to ensure each of the District's schools, programs and curriculum is compliant with this policy, related policies and established guidelines or administrative regulations.[2][3]

Each building principal or designee shall annually report to the Superintendent or designee regarding compliance in his/her school.[3]

Staff members responsible for programs related to school wellness shall report to the Superintendent or designee regarding the status of such programs.

The Superintendent or designee and the established Wellness Committee shall conduct an assessment at least once every three (3) years on the contents and implementation of this policy as part of a continuous improvement process to strengthen the policy and ensure implementation. This triennial assessment shall be made available to the public in an accessible and easily understood manner and include:[2][3]

1. The extent to which each District school is in compliance with law and policies related to school wellness.

2. The extent to which this policy compares to model wellness policies.

3. A description of the progress made by the District in attaining the goals of this policy.

The District shall update or modify this policy as needed, in accordance with applicable law.

The District shall annually inform and update the public, including parents/guardians, students, and others in the community, about the contents, updates and implementation of this policy via the District website, student handbooks, newsletters, posted notices and/or other efficient communication methods. This annual notification shall include information on how to access the School Wellness policy; information about the most recent triennial assessment; information on how to participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the School Wellness policy; and a means of contacting Wellness Committee leadership.[2][3]

The District shall retain records documenting compliance with the requirements of the School Wellness policy, which shall include:[3][4]

• The written School Wellness policy.

• Documentation demonstrating that the District has informed the public, on an annual basis, about the contents of the School Wellness policy and any updates to the policy.

• Documentation of efforts to review and update the School Wellness policy, including who is involved in the review and methods used by the District to inform the public of their ability to participate in the review.

• Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the School Wellness policy and notification of the assessment results to the public.

The District shall establish a Wellness Committee comprised of, but not necessarily limited to, at least one (1) of each of the following: School Board member, District administrator, District food service representative, student, parent/guardian, school health professional, physical education teacher and member of the public. It shall be the goal that committee membership will include representatives from each school building and reflect the diversity of the community.[2]

The Wellness Committee shall serve as an advisory committee regarding student health issues and shall be responsible for developing, implementing and periodically reviewing and updating a School Wellness policy that complies with law to recommend to the Board for adoption.

The Wellness Committee shall review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques in establishing goals for nutrition education and promotion, physical activity and other school based activities that promote student wellness as part of the policy development and revision process.[3]

Nutrition education will be provided within the sequential, comprehensive health education program in accordance with curriculum regulations and the academic standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences.[5][6][7]

Nutrition education in the District shall teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by students. Promoting student health and nutrition enhances readiness for learning and increases student achievement.

District schools shall strive to provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity during the school day for all students.

A physical and social environment that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students shall be maintained.

A sequential physical education program consistent with curriculum regulations and Health, Safety and Physical Education academic standards shall be developed and implemented. All District students must participate in physical education.[8][6][7]

Quality physical education instruction that promotes lifelong physical activity and provides instruction in the skills and knowledge necessary for lifelong participation shall be provided

Physical education classes shall be the means through which all students learn, practice and are assessed on developmentally appropriate skills and knowledge necessary for lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity.

Safe drinking water shall be available and accessible to students, without restriction and at no cost to the student, at all meal periods and throughout the school day.[9][10][11][12]

Nutrition professionals who meet hiring criteria established by the District and in compliance with federal regulations shall administer the school meals program. Professional development and continuing education shall be provided for District nutrition staff, as required by federal regulations.[13][14][15][16]

District schools shall provide adequate space, as defined by the District, for eating and serving school meals.

Students shall be provided a clean and safe meal environment.

Access to the food service operation shall be limited to authorized staff.

Nutrition content of school meals shall be available to students and parents/guardians.

All foods and beverages available in District schools during the school day shall be offered to students with consideration for promoting student health and reducing obesity.

Foods and beverages provided through the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs shall comply with established federal nutrition standards.[9][10][13][14]

Foods and beverages offered or sold at school-sponsored events outside the school day, such as athletic events and dances, shall offer healthy alternatives in addition to more traditional fare.

Competitive Foods - Competitive foods available for sale shall meet or exceed the established federal nutrition standards (USDA Smart Snacks in School). These standards shall apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold to students, which may include, but are not limited to: a la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, snack carts and fundraisers.[3][17][18]

Competitive foods are defined as foods and beverages offered or sold to students on school campus during the school day, which are not part of the reimbursable school breakfast or lunch.

For purposes of this policy, school campus means any area of property under the jurisdiction of the school that students may access during the school day.[17][3]

For purposes of this policy, school day means the period from midnight before school begins until thirty (30) minutes after the end of the official school day.[17][3]

The District may impose additional restrictions on competitive foods, provided that the restrictions are not inconsistent with federal requirements.[17]

Fundraiser Exemptions - Fundraising activities held during the school day involving the sale of competitive foods shall be limited to foods that meet the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, unless an exemption is approved in accordance with applicable Board policy and administrative regulations.[19]

The District may allow a limited number of exempt fundraisers as permitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education each school year: up to five (5) exempt fundraisers in elementary and middle school buildings, and up to ten (10) exempt fundraisers in high school buildings. Exempt fundraisers are fundraisers in which competitive foods are available for sale to students that do not meet the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.[17]

The District shall establish administrative regulations to implement fundraising activities in District schools, including procedures for requesting a fundraiser exemption.

Non-Sold Competitive Foods - Non-sold competitive foods available to students, which may include but are not limited to foods and beverages offered as rewards and incentives, at classroom parties and celebrations, or as shared classroom snacks, shall meet or exceed the standards established by the District.

All foods and beverages provided, but not sold, to students during the school day shall be consistent with the following standards: (1) provided with consideration for promoting student health and reducing obesity, (2) include healthy alternatives wherever possible, and (3) minimize foods or beverages with added sugar as the primary ingredient.

Marketing/Contracting - Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day shall meet or exceed the established federal nutrition standards (USDA Smart Snacks in School) and comply with established Board policy and administrative regulations.[3][17]

Exclusive competitive food and/or beverage contracts shall be approved by the Board, in accordance with provisions of law. Existing contracts shall be reviewed and modified to the extent feasible to ensure compliance with established federal nutrition standards, including applicable marketing restrictions.[20]

Management of Food Allergies in District Schools

The District shall establish Board policy and administrative regulations to address food allergy management in District schools in order to:

• Reduce and/or eliminate the likelihood of severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.

• Ensure a rapid and effective response in case of a severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

• Protect the rights of students by providing them, through necessary accommodations when required, the opportunity to participate fully in all school programs and activities.

Federal regulations at 7 CFR 210.31 require local education agencies (LEAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program to complete an assessment of their local school wellness policy at least once every three years and make the results available to the public. This triennial assessment must measure the implementation of the local school wellness policy and include:

• The extent to which schools under the jurisdiction of the LEA are in compliance with the local school wellness policy;

• The extent to which the LEA’s local school wellness policy compares to model local school wellness policies; and

• A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the local school wellness policy.

Click HERE to review the current Triennial Assessment of the PMSD Wellness Policy.