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Methuen committee revises wellness policy language to protect recess and limit in‑school food events
Summary
A revised wellness policy presented Sept. 16 would add explicit protections against automatic loss of recess and direct that in‑school food events during school hours follow developed guidelines; the committee pulled the wellness policy for further drafting of program‑level details.
The Methuen School Committee on Sept. 16 reviewed an updated wellness policy that the policy subcommittee and MASC had drafted, and members asked for clearer programmatic guidelines to accompany the policy.
The subcommittee added two district‑specific bullets: (1) guidance aimed at ensuring recess is not routinely withheld without administrative approval and (2) a clarification that events involving food during school hours (for example, classroom celebrations or PTO‑sponsored incentives) should follow developed guidelines so the district does not inadvertently restrict after‑hours PTO activities.
Member Maxwell pressed for language that requires guidelines to be developed for both recess procedures and food events during the school day so principals and PTOs have clear expectations. “We’re not gonna restrict what the PTO events have at trunk or treat or because their parents are with them. So just to manipulate this to say during school hours,” Maxwell said. The subcommittee said the wellness policy sets the high‑level expectations and that the district’s wellness committee will draft the operational program, procedures and training materials for principals and staff.
The committee opted to remove the wellness policy (ADF) from tonight’s omnibus approval list so the subcommittee can finalize the program text, add clarified language about school‑day events and confirm implementation steps for recess and food‑service coordination. The policy will return for a later second read.
