Winneconne board adopts updated policies on medication, food services, wellness and meal eligibility

The Winneconne Community School District Board of Education on Dec. 16 approved updates to four district policies covering medication administration, food services, wellness leadership and free-and-reduced meal eligibility.

The policy committee recommended the changes and the board voted to adopt them after discussion. The board’s motion to adopt Policy 5330 (administration of medication and emergency care), Policy 8500 (food services), Policy 8510 (wellness) and Policy 8531 (free and reduced-price meals) passed on roll call by the members present.

Why it matters: the changes allow the district to administer nonprescription drugs from its supply when provided consistent with parental authorization and, in some cases, a health-care provider’s instructions; they add a federally required grievance procedure for disability-related dietary accommodations; they insert the U.S. Department of Agriculture nondiscrimination statement into the wellness policy and require designated leadership for policy oversight; and they confirm the district’s choice of standard free-and-reduced eligibility rather than the commodity-eligibility option.

Policy details and board discussion: on Policy 5330, the draft clarifies that nonprescription products provided by the school may be administered with prior written parental consent and that such products must be supplied in their original manufacturer packaging showing ingredients, recommended dosage and the student’s name. The draft permits high-school students to possess and self-administer nonprescription and prescription medication if a medication-authorization form is filed; it also allows “responsible” students in grades K–8 to be permitted to carry certain medications under conditions the school nurse determines.

A board member raised a practical question about how a student’s name would appear on an over-the-counter bottle. A school official replied the name could be added by labeling or a marker and that the health room maintains a stock of common items (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl) for which parents may authorize use. Another board member voiced concern about students sharing medication; administrators said prescriptions require practitioner authorization in addition to parental consent and that building-level discretion would be exercised for younger students.

On Policy 8500, the board accepted language streamlining dietary-accommodation procedures, appointing a special dietary-accommodations coordinator (the food-service director) and adding a grievance procedure required by federal regulation (7 CFR 210.15(b)(6)).

Policy 8510 was updated to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture nondiscrimination statement and to note that at least one choice for policy leadership is required to meet auditor expectations. The board discussed whether to list a position only or include a person’s name and identified Peg Mitcheller, director of learning, as the designated official for wellness oversight.

Policy 8531 incorporates federal requirements for free and reduced-price meals and adds, as an option, a commodity-eligibility provision that would allow district- or schoolwide free meals if a sustained eligibility threshold is met; the board selected the standard free-and-reduced option.

The board approved the policy package with a motion recorded in the minutes and a roll-call vote by the members present.

What’s next: the policies take effect according to district procedures; the board also asked that the policy language be checked for consistent use of position titles rather than personal names when appropriate.