NEWBERRY — The Newberry County School District is working on a new school wellness policy that will take effect during the 2015-16 school year.
“We have been working on revisions for the wellness policy for a little over a year. We have revised about 98 percent of the current policy as presented,” said Jim Suber assistant superintendent for operations and administration.
The school wellness policy involves nutrition education and promotion, nutrition standards for all food and beverages sold by the district, physical activity and evaluation and enforcement. New policy points range from nutrition education to discipline. Highlights for each category are as follows:
Nutrition education and promotion
• Qualified child nutrition professionals will provide all students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, safe and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students.
• Nutrition education will be offered at each grade level as a part of sequential, comprehensive standards-based health education program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health. Nutrition education may also be integrated into other areas of the curriculum.
• The district will provide opportunities for ongoing professional training and development for food service staff, teachers and and volunteers on the importance of physical activity for young children and the relationship of physical activity and good nutrition to academic performance and healthy lifestyles.
Nutrition standards for all food and beverages
• All food and beverages sold on campus will comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans (including vending machines, a la carte foods, beverage contracts, school stores and canteens, school sponsored parties and fundraising).
• All foods made available on campus will adhere to food safety and security guidelines.
• During the instructional day, foods that come from home with the purpose of sharing among students must be store bought, pre-packaged foods.
Physical Activity
• Schools will not deny a student participation in recess or other physical activities as a form of discipline or for classroom make up time. Schools will not use physical activity (e.g., running or walking laps, push ups) as a form of punishment, this does not apply to athletic programs.
This policy was questioned by some board members. Board Member Hugh Gray asked about the addition of this policy, saying it might work as a deterrent.
“What you just brought up was a topic of much discussion. The policy is used to make sure that students live an active lifestyle. This way, they do not miss out on physical activity, and if they are forced to do laps, they may end up resenting exercise and not do it in the future,” Suber said.
Board member Lucy Meetze said she could see the issue from both sides. She cited her son when he was in school how not being able to play at recess made him behave more in class.
Other
• Withholding food and beverages as punishment is prohibited.
Evaluation and Enforcement
• Schools should have a local coordinated school health and wellness committee comprised of physical education, health education and classroom teachers; school food services managers; health services personnel; guidance personnel; families; administrators and community.
The first reading of the policy was approved after a motion was made by Board Member Clyde Hill and seconded by Meetze.
Other business
• Rebecca Glymph was recognized for being the winner of the Technology Champion Award from the WPEC Consortium which consists of 12 school districts. There is no state winner, but all five regional winners will be recognized at the State Business Summit in Greenville on June 21.
• The final reading of the 2015-16 budget was approved. There were no changes made to the budget since the public hearing.
• A revision was made to the district administrative rule for acceleration/academic achievement-IKEA-R developed through the collaboration of the middle school principals and district instructional staff. All references to PASS test have been removed, as the test no longer exists.
• The board approved the administration to negotiate with MAR Construction to complete the classroom renovation in the art rooms at Newberry Middle and Mid-Carolina Middle, not to exceed $195,000.