3542.34 3542.34Business and Non-Instructional Operations
Nutrition Program
The Board recognizes that healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their academic potential, full physical and mental growth and lifelong health and well-being. To help ensure students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices for a lifetime, the Superintendent shall prepare and implement a comprehensive District nutrition program consistent with state and federal requirements for districts sponsoring the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The input of staff, students, parents and public health professionals will be encouraged.
The program shall reflect the Board's commitment to providing adequate time for instruction to promote healthy eating through nutrition education, serving healthy and appealing foods at District schools, developing food-use guidelines for staff and establishing liaisons with nutrition service providers, as appropriate. Nutrition education topics shall be integrated within the sequential, comprehensive health education program taught at every grade level, pre-kindergarten through grade 12, and coordinated with the District's nutrition and food services operation.
It is the intent of the Board that District schools take a proactive effort to encourage students to make nutritious food choices. Food and beverages sold or served on District grounds or at District-sponsored events shall meet administrative regulation requirements for nutritional standards and/or other guidelines as may be recommended by District and school health and nutrition committees.
Food and beverages sold or served in District schools shall include nutritious, low-fat foods and drinks, which may include, but shall not be limited to, low-fat dairy products, natural fruit juices and fresh or dried fruit at all times when food or drink is available for purchase by students during the school day.
The Superintendent shall ensure that nutritious foods are available as an affordable option whenever food is sold or served on District property or at district-sponsored events; that schools [prohibit] [limit] the sale or serving of foods or snacks high in fat, sodium or added sugars; and competition with nutritious meals served by the school nutrition and food services operation is minimized.
Although the Board believes that the District's nutrition and food services operation should be financially self-supporting, it recognizes, however, that the nutrition program is an essential educational and support activity. Therefore, budget neutrality or profit generation must not take precedence over the nutrition needs of its students. In compliance with federal law, the District's NSLP [and SBP] shall be nonprofit.
The Superintendent is directed to develop administrative regulations to implement this policy, including such provisions as may be necessary to address all food and beverages sold and/or served to students at school (i.e., competitive foods, snacks and beverages sold from vending machines, school stores, and fund-raising activities and refreshments that are made available at school parties, celebrations and meetings), including provisions for staff development, family and community involvement and program evaluation.
(cf. 6142.6 - Physical Education)
(cf. 3542 - Food Service)
(cf. 3542.33 - Food Sales Other Than National School Lunch Program)
(cf. 3542.34 - Nutrition Program)
(cf. 3452.45 - Vending Machines)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and the feeding programs for public school children and employees.
10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.
10-215a Non-public school participation in feeding program.
10-215b Duties of state board of education re feeding programs.
10-216 Payment of expenses.
10-215b-1 State board of education regulation
PA 04-224 An Act Concerning Childhood Nutrition in Schools, Recess, and Lunch Breaks
Policy adopted: 7/11/05