On Monday, the Hancock County Board of Education modified the district’s wellness policy, imposing new restrictions on food-serving-related school celebrations.
The board discussed the proposed revisions to the wellness policy on October 24. The policy establishes a wellness committee and sets objectives and standards for physical education and nutrition.
Superintendent Dan Enich stated that the policy had completed its 30-day comment period. “I received no feedback. I did not receive any emails.
With a board vote of 5-0, the amendments’ principal feature—the addition of a section regulating school celebrations—was approved.
“Celebrations involving serving food during the school day are limited to no more than six parties per class per year,” according to the new guidelines. Classrooms can choose two treats and drinks, but they can only serve water, 100% juice, or low-fat or fat-free milk. Every dish brought to the festivities needs to be professionally made, packaged, and labelled with the ingredients and nutrition.
Serving foods containing tree nuts and peanuts, “or those processed in a facility with the possibility of cross-contact,” is forbidden by policy.
A list of suggested foods and ideas for parents to consider in place of party food is also included in the policy. Some of the ideas include yoghurt and fruit, yogurt-covered pretzels, fruit smoothies, hummus or bean dip, animal, graham, and Teddy crackers, low-fat popcorn, baked tortilla chips, canned fruits, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, low-fat string cheese, rice cakes, and whole grain crackers.
On Monday, the board decided to hire Vince Zastudil Concrete and Construction for the $235,000 cement project that is part of the plaza area of the Weir High baseball field. The decision was made unanimously.
According to Enich, the plaza has been a part of the intricate plans since 2020.
“It’s nothing new,” he said, adding that things can proceed in the upcoming weeks now that the contract has been approved. “It’s prepared to move.”
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