The Cobb County School District (District) recognizes the importance that wellness plays in life as well as academic success of students. Further, Federal law requires that the District establish a local school wellness policy and develop a comprehensive plan with measurable implementation strategies that involves all pertinent areas of the District.

RULE:

The District assures that the guidelines for reimbursable meals will not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture as the regulations and guidance apply to schools.

A. NUTRITION EDUCATION GOALS:
The District will teach, encourage and support healthy eating by students.
    1. The primary goal of nutrition education is to positively influence students’ eating
        behaviors. Nutrition education is an integral part of the school health education
        program as described in Administrative Rule IHAM (Health Education).
    2. Continuing professional development will be provided for all Food and Nutrition Service
        staff members. Such programs should include appropriate certification and/or training
        programs for school nutrition directors, school nutrition managers, and cafeteria
        workers according to their levels of responsibility.
    3. Cobb County Performance Standards in health education address nutrition and
        physical activity. Students in grades Pre-K–12 will receive nutrition education that is
        age appropriate, reflects student cultures, is interactive and teaches the life-skills
        they need to adopt lifelong healthy eating behaviors.
    4. Staff who provides nutrition education will have appropriate training and user-friendly
        resources.
    5. During the school day, schools will provide students and adults with healthy food
        choices (cafeteria, a la carte, classroom snacks, ASP snacks, vending, fundraising,
        etc.) that are consistent with the nutrition education curriculum.
    6. Schools will participate in the Team Nutrition Schools Program. Team Nutrition Schools
        agree to do the following:
        (1) Support USDA’s Team Nutrition goals and values.
        (2) Demonstrate a commitment to help students meet the Dietary Guidelines for
             Americans.
        (3) Designate a Team Nutrition School Leader who will establish a school team.
        (4) Distribute Team Nutrition materials to teachers, students and parents/guardians.
        (5) Involve teachers, students, parents/guardians, food service personnel, and the
             community in interactive and entertaining nutrition education activities.
        (6) Participate in the National School Lunch Program.
        (7) Demonstrate an effective and efficient Child Nutrition Program.
        (8) Share successful strategies and programs with other schools.

B. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GOALS:
The primary goal for each school’s physical activity component is to provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, maintain physical fitness, regularly participate in physical activity, and understand the short- and long-term benefits of a physically active and healthy lifestyle. Thirty to sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activities daily for all students K-12 shall be encouraged. The District’s physical education program is outlined in Administrative Rule IHAE (Physical Education Program).

C. NUTRITION STANDARDS:
In order to promote healthy eating habits:
    1. The School Nutrition Program will ensure that reimbursable school meals meet the
        school nutrition program requirements and nutrition standards set forth under relevant
        federal and state regulations.
    2. Schools will provide to students foods and beverages that are low in fat and sugar
        and high in fiber (a la carte, vending, school stores/snack bars, and ASP Programs).
        Guidelines will be provided by Food and Nutrition Services to the administrators of
        each of these programs.
    3. Guidelines will be provided by Food and Nutrition Services to the local School Health
        Advisory Council to improve the nutritional content of foods offered in fundraising
        activities and class parties.
    4. The following directives shall be observed in operating the school cafeterias in the
        District:
        a. Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value:
           The sale and distribution of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by USDA
           regulations is prohibited in:
           (1) Elementary Schools (grades Pre-K through 5):
                From the beginning of the day (12:01a.m.) until the end of the school day or
                ASP (whichever is later).
           (2) Secondary Schools (grades 6 through 12)) in the dining, serving, and kitchens
                areas during breakfast and lunch meal periods.
        b. Competitive Foods:
            (1) Definition:
                 Competitive foods are any foods sold in competition with the National School
                 Breakfast and Lunch Program to children during the meal periods.
            (2) If the Principal approves the sale of competitive foods at school:
                 (a) All income from the sale of such foods must accrue to the benefit of:
                      1) The nonprofit school food service; or
                      2) The school or student organizations approved by the principal.
                 (b) They must be sold in locations other than the dining, serving, and kitchen
                      areas.
                 (c) The school should promote an overall school environment that encourages
                       students to make healthy food choices.

D. OTHER SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES:
    1. Schools should create a healthy building environment and develop classroom
        management strategies that provide consistent wellness messages that are
        conducive  to healthy eating and a physically active lifestyle. Therefore, schools
        should:
        a. Provide a clean and safe meal environment.
        b. Provide alternatives to food as a reward or punishment.
        c. Provide a safe environment for physical activity.
    2. Local best practices will be shared on District Web-site(s).

E. IMPLEMENTATION:
    1. Schools shall establish and maintain a School Health Advisory Council (Council).
        Principals may use the local School Council or other existing committees to fulfill this
        responsibility. The annual goal(s) of the Council will support this Administrative Rule
        and the school’s wellness policy governing wellness for faculty, staff, and students.
        a. The Council may consist of administration, teacher, physical educator, café
            manager, health educator, school nurse, counselor, parent/guardian and/or PTA
            member, student, or School Council Member.
        b. The online abridged version of the CDC’s School Health Index (Index) shall be used
            to assess and improve the school’s physical activity, healthy eating, and overall
            school wellness initiatives. The first assessment must be completed by the end of
            the first semester after this Rule is approved. The Index should be used annually
            thereafter by the Council and principal for ongoing assessment.
        c. The Council will utilize the results of the Index assessment to develop the school’s
            wellness policy and an annual, as a minimum, plan for its fulfillment.
        d. Central office staff will work with the local school administration and the local
            School Council to provide assistance and resources to focus training and support
            for student and staff wellness initiatives, such as local staff wellness surveys,
            health-risk surveys, lunch and learns, blood pressure checks, stress reduction
            strategies, etc.
       e. To improve communication and support the local school wellness initiative,
           information on nutrition, physical activity and physical education shall be included
           in the following: Student handbooks, newsletters, Web sites, PTA meetings, bulletin
           boards, or etc.
    2. The Food and Nutrition Services Department (FNS) shall utilize its component of the
        District’s Strategic Plan to monitor implementation of this Rule. FNS will define the
        following parameters: action step/strategies, timeline, resources, responsibilities, and
        evaluation measures.
    3. The Area Assistant Superintendents will develop a standard instrument for use in
        monitoring the implementation of the Wellness Policy at local schools. The School
        Health Advisory Council or the School Council, as determined by the Principal, will:
        a. Document their efforts to comply with this Rule and the school’s Wellness Policy;
            and
        b. Discuss local wellness issues at least once a semester.

Adopted: 7/27/06