Skip to main content
Main Menu Toggle

Policy 707: School Nutrition Program

707.1 School Nutrition Program

The purpose of the School Nutrition Program shall be to provide nutritional, balanced meals to the school district on a non-profit basis.

Legal Reference: (Code of Iowa) Chapter 283A.1


Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: January 8, 1980

 

707.2 Scope of Program

School Nutrition facilities are provided to serve students and all school personnel when school is in session. Facilities may also be used for food service to: (1) teacher or other school personnel groups, (2) parent-teacher meetings, and (3) civic organization meetings for the purpose of better understanding the schools, upon written approval.

The school lunch program shall be under the direction of a school lunch director who will establish and maintain a central record system, prepare menus and recipes, develop standards, initiate purchasing, recommend personnel for employment, promotion, or dismissal, and conduct in-service training programs.

When a student/family lunch account is closed out the balance remaining will be refunded to the student’s parents. If the ending balance is greater than $10, a check will be issued and mailed to the address on file in the student management system. If the ending balance is less than $10, a letter will be sent to the parents stating their options to pick up a cash refund or donate the ending balance to the nutrition fund of the Mount Pleasant Community School District. The cash refund can be picked up at the District Central Office.  If the parent fails to respond to the letter, either in writing or verbally, within 30 days, a donation to the nutrition will be assumed.

 

 If a refund check is returned to the district as undeliverable by the U. S. Postal Service, attempts will be made to locate the family by other available means. However, if a forwarding address cannot be located, and the family does not contact the school district, the returned refund check will be considered void after six months time.

  

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; May 14, 2018; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:  May 14, 2018

 

707.3 Financial Support

District tax funds may be used to provide necessary physical plant facilities, purchase the initial equipment necessary for the establishment of food service in new or existing buildings, and replace major items of equipment.

Code of Legal Reference: (Iowa) Chapter 283A.2

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended:

 

707.4 Eligibility for Free or Reduced Cost Meals

Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who meet USDA eligibility guidelines will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or at a reduced price.  The school district shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals.

 

The district shall at least twice annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law. 

 

It is the responsibility of the Food Service Consultant or Building Principal to determine the eligibility of students for free or reduced price school nutrition programs, in accordance with criteria established by state and federal law.  If school personnel have knowledge of a student who is in need of free or reduced-price meals, school personnel shall contact the Food Service Secretary.

 

If a student owes money for five or more meals, then Food Service Secretary may contact the student’s parent or guardian to provide information regarding the application for free or reduced price meals.  The school is encouraged to provide reimbursable meals to students who request reimbursable meals unless the students’ parent or guardian has specifically provided written direction to the school to withhold a meal from the student. 

 

Employees will be required to pay for meals consumed.

 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.

 

Date of Adoption: August 20, 1974

Reviewed: April; 13, 1992; May 14, 2001; Feb. 14, 2006; Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: January 7, 1985; Nov. 12, 2018

 

707.5 School Wellness Policy

 The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Education is committed to the optimal development of every student. The board believes for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental, and social success, there needs to be a positive, safe, and health-promoting learning environment at every level, in every setting.

 

The school district provides a comprehensive learning environment for developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors. The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school district goals to positively influence a student's understanding, beliefs and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity. In accordance with law and this belief, the board commits to the following:

 

The school district will identify at least one goal in each of the following areas:

  • Nutrition Education and Promotion: Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that helps students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors.
  • Physical Activity: Schools will provide students with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meet the Iowa Healthy Kids Act.
  • Other School Based Activities that Promote Wellness: As appropriate, schools will support students, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

 The following nutritional guidelines for food available on school campuses will be adhered to:

  • Meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program will be appealing and meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by state and federal law;
  • The District child nutrition program will accommodate students with special dietary needs.
  • Schools providing access to healthy foods outside the reimbursable meal programs before school, during school and thirty minutes after school shall meet the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards, at a minimum. This includes such items as those sold through a la carte lines and vending machines;
  • Snacks provided to students during the school day without charge (e.g., class parties) will aim to meet standards set by the district in accordance with law. The district will provide parents a list of foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards for classroom snacks and celebrations.

 

The superintendent or superintendent’s designee shall implement and ensure compliance with the policy by:

  • Reviewing the policy at least every three years and recommending updates as appropriate for board approval;
  • Implementing a process for permitting parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, administrators and the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy;
  • Making the policy and updated assessment of the implementation available to the public (e.g., posting on the website, newsletters, etc). This information shall include the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy and a description of the progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy; and
  • Developing administrative regulations, which shall include specific wellness goals and indicators for measurement of progress consistent with law and district policy.
  • The principal will ensure compliance with the Wellness Policy that pertains to their building.
 
  • The Board of Directors of the Mount Pleasant Community School District promotes healthy students by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. An important aspect is that the district is ‘peanut/tree nut aware.’ We work with students, parents and staff to ensure those affected by a peanut or tree nut allergy will have a plan in place to ensure safety at school.

 

To implement the Wellness Policy, the following district specific goals have been established:

 

Goal 1 – Nutrition Education and Promotion:  Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that help students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors. The goal(s) for addressing nutrition education and nutrition promotion include, but are not limited to  the following:

  • Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
  • Ensure nutrition education and promotion are not only part of health education classes, but also integrated into other classroom instruction;
  • Include enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant, and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farm visits, and school gardens;
  • Promote fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, and healthy foods;
  • Emphasize caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (promotes physical activity/exercise);
  • Link with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, Farm to School programs, other school foods, and nutrition-related community services;
  • Concessions: The Mount Pleasant Community School District encourages concessions that are sold outside of the instructional day to offer nutritious options for sale including but not limited to; fresh fruits, vegetables, yogurt, granola bars and string cheese. Water should also be offered wherever beverages are sold.

 

Goal 2 – Physical Activity: Schools will provide students and staff with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meet federal and state guidelines, including the Iowa Healthy Kids Act. The goal(s) for addressing physical activity include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits;
  • Engage students in moderate to vigorous activity during at least 50 percent of physical education class time;
  • Encourage classroom teachers to provide short physical activity breaks (3-5 minutes), as appropriate;
  • Encourage teachers to incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into core subject instructions when possible;
  • Offer classroom health education that complements physical education by reinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain a physically active lifestyle;
  • Afford elementary students with recess according to the following:
    • At least 20 minutes a day;
    • Outdoors as weather and time permits;
    • Encourages moderate to vigorous physical activity; and
  • Scheduled to avoid extended periods of inactivity (i.e., periods of two or more hours).
  • Staff will not use physical activity (running laps, push-ups, sit ups, etc) or routinely withhold opportunities for physical activity (i.e. recess, physical education) as punishment.

 

Goal 3 – Other School-Based Activities that Promote Student Wellness: Schools will support student, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, as appropriate. The goal(s) for addressing other school-based activities that promote student wellness include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide parents a list of foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards for classroom snacks and celebrations;
  • Food and beverage items that are utilized as an incentive shall adhere to the Mount Pleasant School District Nutritional Standards.
  • Share information about the nutritional content of meals with parents and students through the Food Service tab on the District Website;
  • Strive to provide students with at least 10 minutes to eat after sitting down for breakfast and 20 minutes after sitting down for lunch;
  • Drinking water will be available during mealtimes;
  • Discourage students from sharing foods or beverages during meal or snack times, given concerns about allergies and dietary needs, except from school sanctioned sharing table;
  • Students will have access to hand washing or hand sanitizing before and after meals or snacks.

 

Public Involvement: There is a process for permitting parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, administrators and the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy.

  • The district has a local wellness policy committee to advise the district on the development, implementation, and improvement of the school wellness policy;
  • The superintendent or superintendent’s designee invites suggestions or comments concerning the development, implementation, and improvement of the school wellness policy. As such, interested persons are encouraged to contact the superintendent or superintendent’s designees.

  

Legal Reference:

 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.

42 U.S.C. §§ 1771 et seq. 

Iowa Code §§ 256.7(29); 256.11(6).

281 I.A.C. 12.5; 58.11.

 

Date of Adoption: June 12, 2007

Reviewed:   Jan. 10, 2011; March 9, 2015; Nov. 12, 2018; March 8, 2021; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: Jan. 10, 2011; March 8, 2021

 

707.6  Local School Food Authority Procurement

The Mount Pleasant Community School District seeks to conduct all procurement procedures in compliance with stated regulations and to prohibit conflicts of interest and actions of employees engaged in the selection, award and administration of contracts.

No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by Federal, State or local funds if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest.   Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract.   The officers, employees and agents of the non-Federal entity may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts.   However, organizations may set standards for situations in which the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value.

Disciplinary action up to and including dismissal may be applied for violations of such standards by officers, employees or agents of the organization.

Government-wide regulation located at 2 CFR 200.   Program-specific procurement regulations located at:  National School Lunch Program (NSLP) 7 CFR 210.21; School Breakfast Program (SBP) 7 CFR 220.16; Special Milk Program (SMP) 7 CFR 215.14a; Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 225.17, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) 7 CFR 226.22.

 

Date of Adoption:    Nov. 13, 2017

Reviewed:   Nov. 12, 2018; Nov. 8, 2021

Amended: