Wellness Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. This policy complies with the requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and the USDA’s Final Rule on Local School Wellness Policy Implementation (7CFR § 210.31).

2. District Wellness Council

Purpose of the Council
The district will convene a representative District Wellness Council (DWC) that meets at least two times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs -- including the development, implementation and periodic review and update of this local school wellness policy.

Council Membership
The Superintendent (or designee) will convene the DWC, facilitate development of and updates to the Local Wellness Policy (LWP) and ensure each school's compliance with the policy. The names and contact information of the superintendent (or designee) and the council members will be made readily available to the public.

The DWC membership for the district includes:

• Nutrition Director
• Nutrition Manager
• Business Director
• District Health Professional
• Designated School Site Representatives

Public Involvement
The district is committed to ensuring that the community is aware of and involved in the development and implementation of the LWP. The district will actively communicate the ways in which representatives of the DWC, School Wellness Council (SWC) and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the LWP.

3. Accountability


Triennial Assessment
At least once every three years, the district will assess the LWP by measuring the following:

• the extent to which the LWP meets the requirements of the final rule
• the extent to which schools under the jurisdiction of the district are complying with the LWP
• the progress made in attaining the goals of the LWP
• the extent to which the LWP compares to model local wellness policies

Documentation
The district will retain records to document the presence of and compliance with the LWP, including but not limited to the following:

• the current and previous board-approved LWP
• documentation demonstrating that the LWP has been made available to the public
• documentation of the most recent district- and school-level assessments of implementation
• documentation of efforts to review and update the LWP, including who was involved and how the district made stakeholders aware of their ability to participate

Policy Updates

The district will update the LWP based upon the following:

• the results of the triennial assessment
• district priorities
• community needs
• the results of school health assessment
• school-level implementation progress
• emerging scientific information
• new federal or state regulations or guidance

Notification to the Public
The district will actively inform caregivers and the public each year of basic information about the LWP, including but not limited to the following:

• its content and any updates
• district- and school-level implementation status
• an explanation of why updates were made, who was involved and how stakeholders were made aware of their ability to participate
• the effective dates of any policy changes
• the names and contact information of the district and school officials leading and coordinating the DWC
• information on how the public can get involved with the DWC
• information about DWC meetings including dates, times, locations, agendas and meeting minutes
• mechanisms for the public to provide feedback and comments

The policy can be found here:
https://www.musd20.org/departments/child-nutrition/wellness-policy

The district will use multiple methods to distribute this information to the community, including but not limited to the following:

• electronic mechanisms (e.g., email)
• displaying notices on the district and school websites
• non-electronic mechanisms (e.g., newsletters)
• presentations to caregivers
• sending information home to caregivers

4. Nutrition Services


School Meals
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 the following:

• 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 alternatives
• fat-free and low-fat milk
• access to free drinking water

In addition, the district will ensure the following:

• 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.
• 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 (e.g., using prepayment systems which mask students' eligibility status).

The district/schools will:

• offer a variety of foods and beverages that are appealing and attractive to children
• ensure that eating settings are clean and inviting
• 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 use of food as a reward or the withholding of foods as a punishment

Water
Free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students during mealtimes where school meals are served.

The district will implement the following:

• 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).

Competitive Foods and Beverages
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.

Celebrations and Rewards
The district will ensure that celebrations and rewards are consistent with their nutrition policies. All foods and beverages served and offered on the school campus outside of the school meal programs during the school day will meet Smart Snacks Guidelines.

This includes foods and beverages offered during celebrations and parties, for classroom snacks and as rewards and incentives. The district recommends utilizing rewards that promote physical activity and/or promote educational messages (e.g., a coupon for a free book at the book fair for consistently returning books to the library on time). Foods and beverages will not be withheld as a punishment for any reason.

Fundraising
The district will allow only foods and beverages that meet or exceed Smart Snacks to be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day.

The district encourages schools to use fundraisers that promote physical activity (e.g., walk-a-thons, Jump Rope for Heart or fun runs).

Food and Beverage Marketing
The district will ensure all foods and beverages marketed to students on the school campus during the school day will meet or exceed Smart Snacks standards. This includes the marketing of products on the following:

• the exterior of vending machines
• posters, flyers, menu boards, coolers, trash cans and other foodservice equipment
• cups used for beverage dispensing

5. Nutrition and Health Education


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.

The district will ensure it will meet the following goals for nutrition education:

• Nutrition and physical activity education is taught to all K-12 students using evidence-based curricula that are aligned with the National Health Education Standards and address the essential healthy eating and physical activity topics.

Nutrition Promotion
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.

The district will ensure it will meet the following goals:

• School announcements, newsletters and website postings will promote healthy food and beverage choices.

6. Physical Activity

The district will ensure that a combination of physical activity opportunities will

• be offered to students in the form of the following:
• classroom physical activity, daily recess, physical education
• before- and after-school activities and sports
• active academics and transportation

The district will ensure it will meet the following goals:

• Schools will provide all students with adequate and safe spaces, facilities, equipment and supplies for recess.

Physical Education
Physical education teachers will assess student knowledge, motor and social skills and provide instruction in a safe and supportive environment.

Though important for increasing physical activity, other physical activity experiences such as recess, intramural sports or recreational endeavors should not be used as a replacement for physical education.

The district will ensure it will meet the following goals:

• Physical education classes will be taught by certified physical education teachers.
• Physical education classes will be provided to students in all grade levels.
• Promote recess, clubs, and after-school activity opportunities for increased access to physical activities.

7. Other Activities That Promote Student Wellness
 

The district will integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, including the cafeteria, other food and beverage venues, classrooms, and physical activity facilities.

The district will ensure students of the district will be offered additional nutrition
education modules throughout the school year.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Updated 2/19/26