N.Y. Education Law § 918: School district nutrition advisory committees

§ 918. School district nutrition advisory committees. 1. a. Every

school district is hereby authorized and encouraged to establish a child

nutrition advisory committee.

b. The district advisory committee is encouraged to meet at least

quarterly.

c. The committee is encouraged to include, but not be limited to, a

representative of the school board, the food preparation staff, the

physical education departments, the school nurse or health staff, a

registered dietitian, if available, the faculty of the district, the

parent teacher associations in the district, the students enrolled in

the district, and the parents or guardians of students enrolled in the

district.

d. If, due to special circumstances of a district, it is impossible or

impracticable for all groups recommended to have members on the

committee to be represented, the district may approve a committee that,

to the greatest extent possible, represents the interests of the

aforementioned groups.

2. The district is encouraged to give, in such newsletter, if any,

that precedes the commencement of school in the fall, written notice to

all parents or guardians of enrolled students of the existence of a

school district nutrition advisory committee and supply information as

to how such interested parents or guardians may participate on such

committee.

3. The district is encouraged, to the extent practicable, to give

notice to all parents or guardians and students through its regular

newsletters or other regular forms of written communication as to the

scheduled dates of all meetings of the advisory committee.

4. The committee is encouraged to study and make recommendations on

all facets of the current nutritional policies of the district

including, but not limited to, the goals of the district to promote

wellness and proper nutrition, vending machine sales; menu criteria;

educational curriculum teaching healthy nutrition; promote the

achievement and maintenance of healthy weight; educational information

provided to parents or guardians regarding healthy nutrition and the

health risks associated with obesity, asthma, chronic bronchitis and

other chronic respiratory disease; opportunities offered to parents or

guardians on how to encourage healthier eating habits to students; and

the education provided to teachers and other staff as to the importance

of healthy nutrition and the health risks associated with a student's

weight. In addition the committee shall consider recommendations and

practices of other districts and nutrition studies.

5. The committee is encouraged to report periodically to the district

regarding practices that will educate teachers, parents or guardians and

children about healthy nutrition and raise awareness of the dangers of

obesity, asthma, chronic bronchitis and other chronic respiratory

diseases. The committee is encouraged also to provide any parent teacher

associations in the district with such findings and recommendations.

6. Each June, the committee shall report to the board of the local

school district regarding the status of the implementation of the

district's programs to improve students' nutritional awareness and

healthy diet.