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Wellness test word
October 6, 2025
3:15-4:15 PM
Attendees
Fern Seiden – Director of Student Wellness; Donna Reynolds, School Nutrition Director; Allison Davis BGS; Brittany Mahany- BMS; Stacey Lazzar - CMS
Absent - Tessa Akins, School Nurse, ADS; Elizabeth Boucher – Board of Education member; Jenny Fennelly – MBS; Bevan Tulk, Guardian/ Community Member; Melissa Witherspoon – Benefits Manager
Discussion
There was a verbal review of meeting norms.
It was announced that the new Abbot Downing nurse will be joining our committee for the November meeting.
Party/Celebration Policy Review
- Fern gave update on party/celebration policy review
- The School Board said nothing will change in the policy and that this discussion needed to go back to the schools.
- Fern said none of the principals had a problem with putting more specific guidelines in place.
- The handbooks say to leave decisions to individual teachers.
- Fern suggested we revisit this with the principals.
- Brittany said if the principals aren’t willing to act on it then it’s a moot point.
- People complain about issues with handing out treats but don’t really want the change.
- Fern said there are significant reasons to make changes, such as inequity, allergies, disruptions.
- Leslie asked if we could add a few lines of language in the handbooks.
- Fern said we should ask the principals to make the changes.
- Allison said her school would not be happy if food was restricted.
- Brittany suggested just doing a friendly reminder to parents to not bring in unhealthy foods.
- Fern will bring this up one more time to the principals.
- Stacey asked what other schools do with students that come in with coffee.
- The policy states only water is allowed in water bottles.
- Allison said she doesn’t allow students to bring food into her classroom.
- Stacey mentioned parents are pushing for a nut-free area.
Wellness Policy Awareness
- Fern suggested sharing the Wellness Policy at school staff meetings.
- She suggested putting policy into AI to get a condensed version for staff.
School Nutrition Department Update
- Donna gave overview of the Child Nutrition Administrative Review that will take place in February 2026. Review of the wellness policy falls under this umbrella.
- The following areas will be reviewed:
- How does the public know about the wellness policy?
- When and how does the review and update of the wellness policy occur?
- Who is involved in reviewing and updating the local school wellness policy and what is their relationship with the SFA?
- How are potential stakeholders made aware of their ability to participate in the development, review, update, and implementation of the local school wellness policy?
- How does the public know about the results of the most recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy?
- Donna gave an update on the final rule in child nutrition programs:
- Gradual limits on added sugars
- Reduction in sodium
- Long term requirements for whole grain
- Provisions to strengthen Buy American requirement
- There was a discussion on where the district is at for collecting free and reduced applications.
- Fern said the homeless percentage has gone up dramatically.
- Fern said the cut in services is impacting our students.
- Brittany mentioned there has been an increase on students qualifying for free meals under the McKinney-Vento act.
- Stacey said some teachers are providing snacks to students.
- Allison said kids eat for sensory reasons.
- Fer said we could put information on free and reduced priced meal applications in our newsletter.
Book Shared by Fern
- Fern gave all wellness committee members a book by Elena Aguilar entitled Onward.
- Fern suggested that we could use this book as a guiding framework for this committee.
- Fern suggested the committee break up the reading by each taking a chapter and report back to the committee.
- Allison, Brittany and Stacey will each read a chapter before the November meeting and we will include in the November newsletter.
Submitted by Donna Reynolds 10/20/25
pasted from word
October 6, 2025
3:15-4:15 PM pasted from word
Attendees
Fern Seiden – Director of Student Wellness; Donna Reynolds, School Nutrition Director; Allison Davis BGS; Brittany Mahany- BMS; Stacey Lazzar - CMS
Absent - Tessa Akins, School Nurse, ADS; Elizabeth Boucher – Board of Education member; Jenny Fennelly – MBS; Bevan Tulk, Guardian/ Community Member; Melissa Witherspoon – Benefits Manager
Discussion
There was a verbal review of meeting norms.
It was announced that the new Abbot Downing nurse will be joining our committee for the November meeting.
Party/Celebration Policy Review
- Fern gave update on party/celebration policy review
- The School Board said nothing will change in the policy and that this discussion needed to go back to the schools.
- Fern said none of the principals had a problem with putting more specific guidelines in place.
- The handbooks say to leave decisions to individual teachers.
- Fern suggested we revisit this with the principals.
- Brittany said if the principals aren’t willing to act on it then it’s a moot point.
- People complain about issues with handing out treats but don’t really want the change.
- Fern said there are significant reasons to make changes, such as inequity, allergies, disruptions.
- Leslie asked if we could add a few lines of language in the handbooks.
- Fern said we should ask the principals to make the changes.
- Allison said her school would not be happy if food was restricted.
- Brittany suggested just doing a friendly reminder to parents to not bring in unhealthy foods.
- Fern will bring this up one more time to the principals.
- Stacey asked what other schools do with students that come in with coffee.
- The policy states only water is allowed in water bottles.
- Allison said she doesn’t allow students to bring food into her classroom.
- Stacey mentioned parents are pushing for a nut-free area.
Wellness Policy Awareness
- Fern suggested sharing the Wellness Policy at school staff meetings.
- She suggested putting policy into AI to get a condensed version for staff.
School Nutrition Department Update
- Donna gave overview of the Child Nutrition Administrative Review that will take place in February 2026. Review of the wellness policy falls under this umbrella.
- The following areas will be reviewed:
- How does the public know about the wellness policy?
- When and how does the review and update of the wellness policy occur?
- Who is involved in reviewing and updating the local school wellness policy and what is their relationship with the SFA?
- How are potential stakeholders made aware of their ability to participate in the development, review, update, and implementation of the local school wellness policy?
- How does the public know about the results of the most recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy?
- Donna gave an update on the final rule in child nutrition programs:
- Gradual limits on added sugars
- Reduction in sodium
- Long term requirements for whole grain
- Provisions to strengthen Buy American requirement
- There was a discussion on where the district is at for collecting free and reduced applications.
- Fern said the homeless percentage has gone up dramatically.
- Fern said the cut in services is impacting our students.
- Brittany mentioned there has been an increase on students qualifying for free meals under the McKinney-Vento act.
- Stacey said some teachers are providing snacks to students.
- Allison said kids eat for sensory reasons.
- Fer said we could put information on free and reduced priced meal applications in our newsletter.
Book Shared by Fern
- Fern gave all wellness committee members a book by Elena Aguilar entitled Onward.
- Fern suggested that we could use this book as a guiding framework for this committee.
- Fern suggested the committee break up the reading by each taking a chapter and report back to the committee.
- Allison, Brittany and Stacey will each read a chapter before the November meeting and we will include in the November newsletter.
Submitted by Donna Reynolds 10/20/25