Wellness Policy & Plan

Goal #1: Schools will educate, encourage and support healthy eating by all students, staff and community of all ages.

• All schools will provide a minimum of two nutrition education handouts and engage in two nutrition promotion activities per campus per year.
• All nutrition education will be acquired from credible sources, including the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, United States Department of Agriculture, School Nutrition Association and the Child Nutrition Department.
• Nutrition education will be shared with families and the community through the Hutto ISD website, parent meetings and by using the cafeteria as a “learning laboratory,” such as nutrition education displays and taste testing.
• The coordinated school health team, which may include a school administrator, nurse, cafeteria manager and others, will monitor and promote campus wellness education and activities.

Goal #1: Schools will provide opportunities for students to participate in regular physical activity to promote personal lifelong behavior and maintain physical well-being.

• Provide opportunities for physical activity outside the classroom and/or school day.

Goal #2: Schools will provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities in accordance with district, state and national guidelines.

• State-certified physical education instructors teach all physical education classes.
• Strive for physical education classes to have a student/adult ratio not to exceed 45:1. If the ratio is greater than 45:1, the district must identify the manner in which safety will be maintained.
• K-6th grade students shall have a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, or 135 minutes weekly.
• 7th-8th grade students shall have a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, or 135 minutes weekly, or 225 minutes over a two-week period.

Goal #1: USDA Nutrition Standards will be used as the standard for guidelines pertaining to foods and beverages made available on school campuses. Nutritional analyses are compiled and maintained on a monthly basis by the Food Services Department.

• All foods provided, but not sold, to students during the school day on a school campus will comply with local, state and federal laws and regulations, as well as the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Food providers will take every measure to ensure that student access to foods and beverages meets federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines.
• Food providers will offer a variety of age-appropriate healthy food and beverage selections for EC/PK, elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.

Goal #1: The school environment is safe, comfortable and promotes healthy eating practices.

• Dining areas are clean and attractive and provide enough seating for all students during lunch time.
• Drinking water is available for all students during meals.
• Food is not used as a reward or punishment for student behavior unless it is detailed in a student’s Individualized Education Plan.
• If food or beverages are used in a learning activity, all laws, guidelines and regulations are met.

Goal #2: Adequate time is provided to eat breakfast and lunch from the time the student is seated.

• Recommended times by the National Association of State Boards of Education are 10 minutes for breakfast and 20 minutes for lunch.
• Lunch periods are scheduled as near the middle of the day as possible and are planned to assure that students do not spend too much time waiting in line.
• If meetings or activities are scheduled during meal times, students must be allowed to eat breakfast or lunch.

Goal #1: All foods made available on campus will adhere to food safety and security guidelines.

• All foods made available on campus comply with federal, state and local food safety and sanitation regulations.
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plans and guidelines are implemented to prevent foodborne illness in schools.
• Every campus promotes and demonstrates appropriate hand washing practices.
• For the safety and security of the food and facility, access to food service operations is limited to Child Nutrition staff and authorized personnel.
• District administrators, by area of responsibility, are responsible for ensuring local, state and federal laws, regulations and guidelines are updated and in place.
• District safety, health and security policies and crisis plans are current. Training and communication are provided to staff, students and the community.

Goal #1: School-based activities are consistent with local wellness plan goals.

• School-based marketing for food and beverage products is consistent with nutrition education and health goals and aligned with federal, state and local regulations, laws and guidelines.
• Hutto ISD determines this to mean no sale of food items that do not meet Smart Snack Nutrition Guidelines at any time during the day on all campus levels.
• Food may be given away during the day if it does not meet Smart Snacks Nutrition Guidelines, as long as it does not interfere with school meal service or occur where school meals are served.
• Sales that meet Smart Snack Nutrition Guidelines are allowed during the school day, as long as they do not compete with meal service times.
• Fundraising exemptions are limited to six per campus per year.
• After-school activities may encourage and include physical activity and health and wellness information.
• Concession stands held during the day must adhere to Smart Snack Nutrition Guidelines until 30 minutes after the last class of the day for all students enrolled in school, per USDA.
• Student Health is supported by Health Office staff on each campus through health education, health screenings and helping enroll eligible children into Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• SHAC includes parents, teachers, Child Nutrition Services, Nursing Services, PE/Wellness Services, administrators, students and community members working together to integrate health curriculum into a coordinated school health program that reflects local values.
• SHAC shall report directly to the school board at least once annually, including a written report with information regarding the council’s recommendations, modifications and activities.

Goal #1: The district shall comply with federal requirements for evaluating the wellness plan.

The district will designate one or more school or district officials, as appropriate, to ensure that each school complies with the local wellness policy.

• Evaluate the extent to which schools are in compliance with the local wellness plan.
• Evaluate the extent to which the local wellness policy compares to a model local school wellness plan.
• Evaluate the progress made in obtaining goals of the local wellness plan.
• Make available to the public an assessment of the local wellness plan.