SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4

         A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION,  Requesting all qualifying school districts in South Dakota to use the South Dakota Department of Education developed, and South Dakota Board of Education approved, Model Wellness Policy as a guideline.

     WHEREAS,  federal law now requires all local school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program to develop and implement wellness policies that address nutrition and physical activity; and

     WHEREAS,  in response to this requirement, the South Dakota Department of Education convened a work group consisting of health, physical activity, nutrition, and education professionals representing a variety of organizations, plus students and parents, to develop a wellness policy for local agencies; and

     WHEREAS,  the model wellness policy developed by the South Dakota Department of Education meets the new federal requirement and is based on science, research, and existing practices from exemplary states and local school districts around the country; and

     WHEREAS,  the Legislature commends school districts for implementing wellness policies; and

     WHEREAS,  the increasing rates of overweight young people and obesity among youth threaten to jeopardize the future health and productivity of our children; and

     WHEREAS,  the South Dakota State Plan for Nutrition and Physical Activity states that thirty- three percent of South Dakota students are overweight or at risk of being overweight; and

     WHEREAS,  similar numbers are reported by South Dakota data for preschool children; and

     WHEREAS,  all foods and beverages made available on school campuses should offer children nutritious choices; and

     WHEREAS,  the Honorable Governor M. Michael Rounds has made improving the health of all South Dakotans a priority with his Healthy South Dakota Initiative:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,  by the Senate of the Eighty-second Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the South Dakota Legislature requests all qualifying school districts in South Dakota to use the South Dakota Department of Education developed, and South Dakota Board of Education approved, Model Wellness Policy as a guideline.

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Adopted by the Senate,

Concurred in by the House of Representatives,

Dennis Daugaard President of the Senate	Trudy Evenstad Secretary of the Senate
Thomas J. Deadrick Speaker of the House	Karen Gerdes Chief Clerk of the House