Wellness History

From the Michigan State Board of Education Local Wellness Policy Preamble:

On June 30, 2004, Congress passed Section 204 of Public Law 108-265, of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This law requires each local education agency participating in a program, authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.1751 et seq.) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), to establish a local school wellness policy by July 1, 2006.

In response to this law, the State of Michigan developed a Model Local Wellness Policy to assist Michigan school districts in developing their own wellness policies. The State’s model for representation on the district committees was used to establish the KPS wellness Committee.

On May 26, 2006 the KPS Board of Education approved the following broad policy. Schools were encouraged to develop policies and procedures for their own buildings, using other schools’ programs as a model, or based on best practices.

Policy 3.14 Wellness
 

Policy
The district will promote wellness of its students and staff.

Specifics
1. The Superintendent or designee will establish a committee including parents, students, school food service, school administrators, the school board, and community members to develop and periodically review a district wellness program guideline.

2. The program should include but not be limited to:
a. appropriate goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness;
b. nutrition guidelines for all foods available at each school during the school day with the objective of promoting student health, reducing childhood obesity and addressing other health related eating issues;
c. guidelines for reimbursable school meals that meet program requirements and nutrition standards established by law; and
d. a plan for measuring implementation of the program at each school.

In the spring of 2008, the district was selected to participate in the American Cancer Society three-year Michiana II Coordinated School Health Leadership Institute in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Education and Indiana Department of Education. The training institute will conclude in April 2011.