INSIDE THE DISTRICT Here are some of...

INSIDE THE

DISTRICT

Here are some of the decisions coming out of Tuesday night’s

Newport-Mesa Unified School District meeting.

ADOPTION OF NEW NUTRITION POLICY

Richard Greene, director of nutrition services for the district,

proposed a new nutrition policy designed to combat child obesity.

WHAT IT MEANS

The district, which stopped selling carbonated soft drinks in

elementary and middle schools six years ago, decided this year to

stop selling them at high schools, as well. Greene said that in

addition to selling healthy food on campus, he hopes to coordinate

with health and physical education teachers to broaden their message

of a good diet and exercise to children. The nutrition services staff

also wants to prohibit the use of food as a behavioral reward or

punishment.

WHAT THEY SAID

The new policy reads: “The Board of Education encourages children

to lead healthy lifestyles by supporting nutritious food choices at

school, providing opportunities for physical activity and promoting

healthy lifestyle linkages with the state standards and Newport-Mesa

curriculum.”

POLICY ON HOMELESS STUDENTS

As part of the federal No Child Left Behind and McKinney-Vento

Homeless Assistance acts, the district must come up with a formal

policy ensuring that homeless students have access to public

education.

WHAT IT MEANS

The district must appoint a liaison to homeless students, provide

transportation to and from school and allow the student to remain at

his or her school of origin even if the student moves. A homeless

student is defined as a child who lacks a “fixed, regular and

adequate nighttime residence,” and includes those living in motels or

sharing housing.

POLICY ON RELEASE OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION

As part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, districts must

release names, addresses and phone numbers to military recruiters on

request unless parents object.

WHAT IT MEANS

On their annual emergency information card for each student,

parents may opt to not allow the release of their children’s contact

information. If they do not, prospective employers, including

military recruiters, will have access to their phone numbers and

addresses. The district does not release that information to any

private profit-making entity other than employers, prospective

employers and representatives of the news media.