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.