Wellness committee recommends stronger policy language and building-level action to promote healthy classrooms
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Summary
The district wellness committee reported results from a WellSAT assessment and Mozaney grade comparisons, recommending firmer policy language on nutrition, classroom practices, and protecting physical activity minutes, plus building-level wellness committees and community engagement.
At the meeting the district’s wellness committee presented its annual findings, including results from the WellSAT assessment and a Mozaney grade comparison, and recommended changes to policy language and building‑level practices to promote student wellness.
Kurt, who said he took over the committee this year, told the board the district's wellness policy is "written extremely well" but some provisions use permissive language (for example, phrasing like "discourage" rather than an explicit prohibition). The committee recommended clarifying whether items such as classroom snacks, birthday treats, fundraising food choices and incentive practices should be encouraged or required.
Why it matters: presenters connected wellness to student behavior, attendance and mood and said more explicit language and school-level practices could support consistent implementation across buildings. The committee proposed a measurable goal to improve policy language by 15 percent (the committee defined that goal by tightening wording and replacing permissive phrases with stronger directives where the board agrees).
Specific proposals and next steps: the committee suggested establishing small wellness committees in each building to provide building-level feedback at the annual district discussion; protecting physical activity minutes and rethinking use of physical activity as discipline (for example, not removing recess as punishment); and conducting community engagement, including surveys and outreach to local businesses that sell healthier snacks. Kurt also said the committee will work with principals and staff to propose concrete alternatives for classroom celebrations and incentives so parents have options beyond high-sugar snacks.
Board members asked about whether the WellSAT analysis covers extracurricular activities; the presenter said the WellSAT focuses on school data and curriculum-required minutes, but the committee has discussed community and extracurricular involvement as a potential next step.
Ending: the presenter said recommended language changes will be presented for first reading during the district’s regular policy update process next month and that the committee will pursue building-level committees and community outreach to implement the recommendations.