The Hector School District is pleased to announce the district will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during the 2023 - 2024 school year providing meals, regardless of eligibility category, at NO CHARGE for all students at the following schools Hector Elementary and Hector High School that participate in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. CEP is made possible through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Special Assistance Certification and Reimbursement Community Eligibility Provision. Federal reimbursement for meals is based on the Identified Student Percentage (ISP) established by the District. The information used to establish the ISP will be made available only to State and Federal officials for review. All adults, e.g., visitors, teachers, support staff members, and administrators of the district must assume the full cost of the meal which is $2.35 for Breakfast and $4.50 for Lunch.

Non-Discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

email:

program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

WELLNESS POLICY
The health and physical well-being of our students directly affects their ability to learn. Childhood obesity increases the incidence of adult diseases occurring in children and adolescents such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. The increased risk carries forward into their adulthood. Research indicates that
a healthy diet and regular physical activity can help prevent obesity and the diseases resulting from it. It is understood that the eating habits and exercise patterns of students cannot be magically changed overnight, but at the same time, the board of directors believes it is necessary to strive to create a culture in our
schools that consistently promotes good nutrition and physical activity.
The problem of obesity and inactivity is a public health issue. The board is keenly aware that it has taken years for this problem to reach its present level and will similarly take years to correct. The responsibility for addressing the problem lies not only with the schools and the Department of Education, but with the
community and its residents, organizations and agencies. Therefore, the district shall enlist the support of the larger community to find solutions which improve the health and physical activity of our students.In its efforts to improve the school nutrition environment, promote student health, and reduce childhood
obesity, the district will adhere to the Arkansas Rules Governing Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards in Arkansas Public Schools. Adhering to these Rules will include, but is not limited to district efforts to

Goals
● Appoint a district school health coordinator who shall be responsible for ensuring that each school fulfills the requirements of this policy

● Implement a grade appropriate nutrition education program that will develop an awareness of and appreciation for nutrition and physical activity throughout the curriculum

● Enforce existing physical education requirements and engage students in healthy levels of vigorous physical activity

● Strive to improve the quality of physical education curricula and increase the training of physical education teachers

● Follow the Arkansas Physical Education and Health Education Frameworks in grades K-12

● Not use food or beverages as rewards for academic, classroom, or sports performances

● Ensure that drinking water is available without charge to all students

● Establish class schedules, and bus routes that don’t directly or indirectly restrict meal access

● Provide students with ample time to eat their meals in pleasant cafeteria and dining areas

● Establish no more than nine (9) school wide events which permit exceptions to the food and beverage limitations established by Rule. The schedule of the events shall be by school, approved by the principal, and shall be part of the annual school calendar

● Abide by the current allowable food and beverage portion standards

● Meet or exceed the more stringent of Arkansas’ or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrition Standards for reimbursable meals and a la’ carte foods served in the cafeteria

● Restrict access to vended foods, competitive foods, and foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) as required by law and Rule

● Conform new and/or renewed vending contracts to the content restrictions contained in the Rules and reduce district dependence on profits from the sale of FMNV

● Provide professional development to all district staff on the topics of nutrition and/or physical activity

● Utilize the School Health Index available from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to assess how well the district is doing at implementing this wellness policy and at promoting a healthy environment for its students