In an effort to tip the scales towards reversing childhood obesity, all public schools must adopt formal nutrition and exercise policies by July 1.

“Although schools are not responsible for the childhood obesity issue, they can be a valuable partner in addressing it,” said Michael Storm, a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) spokesman.

A team of parents, students, food service staff, community members and educators is required to form a wellness policy addressing these issues, according to the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.

This is the first time the federal government has required formal policies. Pennsylvania currently requires none.

Sandy Traister, the Karns City School District food service director, is part of a 35-member committee created by that school district at the end of October. The committee will meet monthly and will present its plan to the school board with adoption slated for July.

“We get a lot more of different input than we’d normally seek,” said Traister. “It provides different perspectives.”

She has been particularly interested in hearing from the three junior high and two high school students on the committee.

The nutrition act also addresses physical activity by urging schools to develop activities that encourage exercise. One could be an after-school walking program, suggested Traister.

Other school districts, such as Allegheny-Clarion Valley, haven’t yet created their committees.

Superintendent Pat Lukasavich said his district is in the planning stage. On Thursday it sent staff to a 17-school consortium to discuss the wellness issue.

He said the knowledge gained there will apply towards training the individuals who will make up the school district’s wellness committee.

Since all schools participate in the National School Lunch program, each must comply with the nutrition act, even if it only means reaffirming policies that are already in place.

“Most schools in this part of the state are probably already in compliance,” said Lukasavich.

For the wellness committees, issues certain to be addressed are vending machines with junk foods and school lunches.

Complementing the new law is House Bill 189. It requires that by July 1, each school district restrict the vending machine sales of foods of “minimal nutritional value” during the lunch or breakfast periods.

But Storm said only a small number of foods fit this category, such as carbonated beverages, gums, hard candies, licorice, etc.

“As you can see, that leaves a lot of foods uncovered,” he said.

Additionally, under the bill, it still remains voluntary that school vending machines meet the nutritional standards set by the state. Schools are encouraged to do and should consider that when forming their wellness policies, said Storm.

Lukasavich said at A-C Valley the vending machines, which are managed by the student council, have some fairly healthy items but do contain junk foods. He said there will be even less junk foods by the end of the school year.

At Karns City, Traister said only bottled water and juices are available through the vending machines during the school day. However, after school hours, the soft drinks and snack machines are available.

The nutrition act also requires nutritional information be provided for all foods available on schools grounds.

Currently, schools must offer menus that derive no more than 30 percent of calories from fat and no more than 10 percent from saturated fat.

Traister said all this regulation is part of an effective program that will eventually pay off in the classroom.

“Many studies have proven that students who are fed well and are active are better learners,” she said.