Business and Noninstructional Operations     DRAFT: 1st reading 9/10/03

Board Policy 3550  FOOD SERVICE/CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

The Governing Board recognizes that students need adequate, nourishing food in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. Our mission is to improve the health of the school community by teaching students and families ways to establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating habits. This can be accomplished through nutrition education, healthy eating, participation in garden-like experiences, assuring that nutritious food is served in schools and integrating food and nutrition into the core academic content in the classroom.

To reinforce the district’s nutrition education program, foods available on school premises shall be:

1. Carefully selected so as to contribute to students’ nutritional well-being and the prevention of disease

2. Prepared in ways that will appeal to students, retain nutritive quality and foster lifelong healthful eating habits

3. Served in age-appropriate quantities and at reasonable prices.

(cf. 3551 – Food Service Operations/Cafeteria Fund)
(cf. 3553 – Free and Reduced Price Meals)
(cf. 3554 – Other Food Sales)
(cf. 5141.32 – Child Health and Disability Prevention Program)
(cf. 6142.8 – Comprehensive Health Education)

Students shall be provided adequate space to eat meals in pleasant surroundings as well as adequate time to eat, relax and socialize.

Contingent upon state funding being appropriated and no later than January 1, 2004, food sold at schools shall adhere to the nutritional standards specified in Education Code 49431. Foods sold at schools shall be made available only during prescribed times. (Education Code 49431)

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the meals offered by the district’s food service program meet all legal requirements for participation in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

To the extent permitted under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, students in all grades shall be allowed to decline a certain number of meal items that they do not intend to consume.

The Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies designed to encourage the participation of students and parents/guardians in the selection of foods of good nutritional quality for school menus. Parents/guardians are encouraged to support the district’s nutrition education efforts by considering nutritional quality when selecting any snacks that they may donate for occasional class parties.

Legal Reference: 

EDUCATION CODE
38030-38103 Cafeteria, establishment and use
45103.5 Contracts for management consulting services; restrictions
49430-49436 Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001
49490-49493 School breakfast and lunch programs
49500-49505 School meals
49510-49520 Nutrition
49530-49536 Child Nutrition Act49540-49546 Childcare food program
49547-48548.3 Comprehensive nutrition services
49550-49560 Meals for needy students
49570 National School Lunch Act

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
15500-15501 Food sales by student organizations
15510 Mandatory meals for needy students
15530-15535 Nutrition education
15550-15565 School lunch and breakfast programs

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 7
210.1-210.31 National School Lunch Program
220.1-220.21 National School Breakfast Program

Management Resources:

CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Healthy Food Policy Resource Guide, 2003

CDC PUBLICATIONS
School Health Index for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide for Elementary and Middle/High Schools, 2000

NASBE PUBLICATIONS
Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn, 2000

USDA PUBLICATIONS
Team Nutrition, Food and Nutrition Services, Changing the Scene, Improving the School Nutrition Environment: A Guide to Local Action, 2000

WEBSITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
American School Food Service Association (ASFSA): http://asfsa.ca.gov/nsd
CDE, Nutrition Services Division/SHAPE California: http://cde.ca.gov/nsd
CDHS, School Health Connections: http://www.mch.dhs.ca.gov/programs/shc.htm
California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition): http://www.californiaprojectlean.org
California Healthy Kids Resource Center: http://www.californiahealthykids.org
National School Boards Association: http://www.schoolhealth@nsba.org
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE): http://www.boards@nasbe.org
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC): http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov

Policy Adopted:

MILL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT - Mill Valley, California