Board introduces wellness policy

An indoor walking program will be available to staff members.
By ERIC GROSSO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CORTLAND -- The Lakeview Board of Education announced intentions to make pupils healthier by passing a new wellness policy for the district.
The move aims to improve nutrition, nutrition information, and physical activity among pupils, staff and parents, school officials said.
"Hopefully, it will improve the lives of many students," said board member Larry Sherer at Monday's meeting.
Hoping to improve nutrition, the wellness policy includes an a la carte option in the cafeteria, including more than one entree choice and salads, and healthier selections in vending machines and the breakfast program, which is targeted to be in all district buildings by the end of the 2007-08 school year.
Pupils will start seeing new posters in the cafeterias promoting better nutrition, nutrition lessons are scheduled for classrooms, and there will be possible "health fair" stations.
Pupils are encouraged to walk in between classes when they are in the same room for more than one subject, and high school students can use the Lakeview Fitness Center during study hall with supervision if academic work is completed.
Other plans
The district also is promoting walks throughout the day, including a possible optional walking program and spending the last five minutes of kindergarten through fifth-grade recess with an organized walk around school grounds.
An indoor walking program, optional flu vaccine program, and health screenings and information will be available to district staff.
The wellness program calls for the confidential measuring of each pupil's body mass index at the start of the program and then yearly thereafter. Absenteeism, clinic visits and participation in physical activities will be tracked to determine if the policy is effective.
Districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program are required to implement a wellness policy by the start of the 2006-07 school year under the Child Nutrition Act passed in 2004. The Lakeview district had until August to pass the policy and will implement it during the upcoming school year.