2018 Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report

A local school wellness policy ("Wellness Policy") is a written document that guides a local educational agency (LEA) or school district's efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students' health, well-being, and ability to learn. The wellness policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108 - 265), and further strengthened by the Healthy, Hunger - Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111- 296). The School District of Palm Beach County has emphasized ongoing implementation and assessment of its "Wellness Policy" also called the "Wellness Promotion Policy (2.035)."

The School Food Service Department continues to oversee this initiative for the entire District. Since its inception, the Wellness Promotion Policy has been adopted and it has had 5 revisions. The School District of Palm Beach County is moving forward with the process of it 6^th revision and adopted by early Spring 2019.

A Wellness Promotion Task Force (WPTF) was created. Our District continues to inform and update the public about the content and implementation of this policy through the District's WPTF meetings. The WPTF met four times in the 2017-2018 school year with District and community stakeholders. The Task Force expands its' participation of internal and community collaborators by fostering a broad-based approach to the values of optimal health, well-being and ability to support the District's ultimate goal of improving student performance. To date, 12 Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Reports have been developed to evaluate the progress and growth of specific strategies, initiatives, programs, and the District's Wellness Promotion journey as a whole.

In addition, our District has participated in incorporating the Coordinated School Health Model within our Wellness Promotion Policy, collaborating and reporting monthly at the Palm Beach County School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meetings, and completing the Florida Healthy School District Self-Assessment tool that identified our progress on our District's sustainable infrastructure, policy, programs, and practices as it relates to overall health and wellness issues addressing the needs of students. On May 8, 2018 our Superintendent, Dr. Donald Fennoy, received a letter announcing that The District of Palm Beach County was recognized as a Florida Healthy School District at the SILVER level for the period of May 2018 through April 2020.