Vermont § 136 - Wellness program; Advisory Council on Wellness and Comprehensive Health

§ 136. Wellness program; Advisory Council on Wellness and Comprehensive Health

• (a) As used in this section: (1) “Fitness program” means a program that includes a physical education program and a
  physical activity program. (2) “Nutrition” includes all food and beverages sold or served in the food service program,
  vending machines, snack bars, and school stores. (3) “Physical activity program” means a program that includes, in addition to regular
  physical education classes, minimum daily physical activity for each student provided
  through activities such as recess and other recreation periods, and participation
  in athletics either during or after regular school hours. “Physical activity” means
  moderate and vigorous physical activities. (4) “Physical education program” means a sequential, developmentally appropriate program
  that is an enjoyable experience for students and is designed to help students develop
  the knowledge, skill, self-management skill, attitudes, and confidence needed to adopt
  and maintain physical fitness throughout their lives. (5) “Wellness program” means a program that includes physical fitness and comprehensive
  health education as defined in section 131 of this title. (b) The Secretary shall establish an Advisory Council on Wellness and Comprehensive Health
  that shall include at least three members with expertise in health services, health
  education, or health policy; at least one member who is a school counselor; and at
  least one member who is a school social worker. The members shall serve without compensation.
  The Council shall assist the Agency to plan, coordinate, and encourage wellness and
  comprehensive health programs in the public schools and shall meet not less than twice
  a year. The Council shall also examine and coordinate state health wellness policies
  and federal wellness policies to identify and, if possible, eliminate any redundancies. (c) The Secretary shall collaborate with other agencies and councils working on childhood
  wellness to: (1) Supervise the preparation of appropriate wellness program curricula for use in the
  public schools, promote programs for the preparation of teachers to teach these curricula,
  and assist in the development of wellness programs. (2) [Repealed.] (3) Establish and maintain a website that displays data from a youth risk behavior survey
  in a way that enables the public to aggregate and disaggregate the information. (4) Research funding opportunities for schools and communities that wish to build wellness
  programs and make the information available to the public. (5) [Repealed.] (d) The Agency shall offer assistance to school districts and supervisory unions to provide
  teacher instruction in wellness programs. (e) Any school district board or supervisory union board may establish a wellness community
  advisory council to inventory community programs and assets and to assist the school
  board and community in developing and implementing wellness programs. The school board
  shall provide public notice to the community to allow all interested parties to apply
  for appointment. The school board shall endeavor to appoint members who represent
  various points of view and expertise within the community regarding wellness programs.
  Members may include representatives from coordinated school health teams, teachers,
  school administrators, students, community members, health care providers, parents,
  and others. (Added 2003, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2007, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2009, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 5, 6, eff. Feb. 14, 2014; 2021, No. 66, § 9, eff. June 7, 2021.)