Action of the School Board Action of the School Board 05/26/15 | Page 6

Operations

Wellness Policy Review

Chief Operations Officer Chuck Holden, Risk Management Consultant Georgie Schulte,
and Health Services Coordinator Cynthia Hiltz presented the 2015 Student Wellness Policy
review.
Every three years, the District Health Wellness and Safety Committee (DHWS) is required
to review the policy and its implementation, Holden said. Other things like the status of
past recommendations, the impact of current regulations and plans for improvement are
also reviewed.
A review subcommittee was formed this year. It conducted a survey regarding student
wellness within the schools. The purpose was to identify current practices in the schools,
establish goals to improve student wellness within the schools and determine areas that
need additional direction from the School Board, Schulte said. The results suggested the
largest need was for consistent communication regarding enforcement of the policy, especially relating to the sales of snack items in school stores, and allowed exemptions to the
policy related to in-school celebrations.
In addition, the DHWS subcommittee reviewed the Student Wellness Policy to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Changes include:
• Fundraisers and concessions that involve the selling and/or serving of food during the
school day must now meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. dietary guidelines. In the past this was a goal. It is now a requirement.
• A new section regarding food and beverages served and/or sold outside of the school
day.
• The section on gardens was deleted and incorporated into the section on Integrating
Nutrition Education into the Classroom.
School Board Chair Tom Heidemann called the additional federal regulations frustrating,
but said he appreciated the work done to the policy by the DHWS. “I just want to make
sure we’re doing letter of the law — not more,” he said.
Holden acknowledged it’s been a challenge, but with more than $9 million in federal funding by way of the Federal School Lunch Program, the district has little choice but to comply
and adjust policies accordingly.
“Our staff has done a phenomenal job to comply with these regulations but keep the programs viable,” he said.

Employee Services

Employee services resolutions approved

The School Board approved two resolutions related to staffing for next year. The first
resolution eliminated positions for 36 paraeducators and two secretarial-clerical staff at the
close of the current school year. The second resolution reinstated five probationary teachers
who had been terminated earlier in the year.
In addition, the board received a list of long-term substitute teachers and reemployed,
retired teachers whose positions are self-terminating at the end of the year.

Consent agenda

The School Board approved:

6

ACTION

May 11, 2015 regular meeting

a. Minutes of the May 11, 2015 School Board work session.
b. Retirements, resignations, terminations, layoffs and recalls, leaves and modified