ELLSWORTH –Ellsworth Community School District received a score of 2.67 out of 4.0 on its Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Report Card, completed Feb. 21, 2021.

The Ellsworth School Board reviewed the report card at its June 14 meeting. A local wellness policy guides efforts to create a healthier school environment, and supports a culture of wellbeing by establishing healthful practices and procedures for students, staff and families. School districts that participate in the federal Child Nutrition Program must complete an assessment of their local policy at minimum once every three years.

The report summarizes policy objectives and the most recent evaluation’s results. The overall rating is based on a 4.0 scale to measure success in meeting/complying with each policy objective.

“Very, very few districts” meet what state and federal guidelines would say is ideal, said Superintendent Barry Cain. The policy sections that need improvement, which are mostly due to absence of specific language in those policy areas, include:

•Teachers are encouraged to consider nonfood items as a teacher-to-student incentive. Should teachers decide to use food items as an incentive, they are encouraged to adhere to the nutritional guidelines.

•PE/Health and F.A.C.E. teachers should promote the school lunch requirements set by the USDA.

•Students will receive education about agriculture and the food system through specific activities.

•Middle School: Students will have the option to use the fitness room, under supervision, when available.

•Each building principal will monitor procedures for implementing the district physical activity guidelines yearly.

•The Wellness Director is responsible for providing all staff with professional development on these guidelines yearly.

The triennial assessment requires districts use the Rudd Center’s Wellness School Assessment Tool, which includes 67 best practice policy items related to nutrition education, nutrition standards for foods, physical education and activity, wellness promotion and marketing; implementation, evaluation and communication.

The comparison, which compares the district’s policy to a model policy, identifies policy strengths and improvement areas.

WellSAT scores measure comprehensiveness (to what extent the recommended practices are included in the policy) and strength (how strongly the policy items are stated). Out of 100 possible points, in comprehensiveness ECSD scored 87, and in strength 60.

Cain said the district is staunch on providing healthy offerings in lunches and vending machines and is continually promoting healthy options.

“We’re in a society where we’re inundated with unhealthy options,” Cain said.

Board President Doug Peterson agreed, and said he was guilty grabbing fast food meals when his kids were in sports and he was coaching.

ESSER funds

The purpose of Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief funds is to support schools and districts in addressing the impact of COVID-19. The funds, divided into three phases, can be used for assessments, identifying and addressing unfinished learning, instructional materials, after school/extended day, summer learning, professional development, mental health services, software, hardware, connectivity, building systems, and teacher pay.

The phases for ECSD can be broken down like this:

ESSER 1 ($98,936)

This amount has been received and spent, according to state requirements.

•Fund 10, $88,877,79 (health aides)

•Fund 27, $98.71 (mandated portion)

•Fund 50, $2,480.50 (food service carts)

•Fund 80, $7,479 (Panther Kids Club staffing Esser II ($400,619) Additional allocation, for which ECSD qualifies due to having more face-to-face instruction time, is to be determined. This is not a complete listing.

2020-2021 school year

•Microphone system (M.S./H.S.) ($107,420.12)

•Chromebooks (Paragon Development) ($36,093.00)

•GoGuardian ($34,528.00)

•Chromebooks (Amazon) ($35,294.40)

•Bottle fillers ($12,389.64)

•Online Classes (CESA 9) ($12,100)

•Playground equipment (Gopher) ($4,442.48)

•Food service costs

•Hot spots ($21,799.13)

•Unemployment ($17,244.45)

•Nursing hours (above salary) ($8,032.47)

•Food Service Director (above salary) ($3,528.47)

•Technology integration (above salary) ($12,141.56)

•PKC- Health Aide hours ($4,158.25)

•Zoom meeting fee (monthly large group) ($822.72)

2021-2022 school year

•Grade 2 teacher (ESSER 2) ($85,997)

•Grade 3 teacher (ESSER 2) ($77,933)

•Summer School – 2021

•Mental Health Coordinator (grant applied for)

•Smaller item claims. (2020-2021 school year and forward)

ESSER III ($899,681)

Additional allocation to be determined. Cain

will know more at the July school board meeting.

2021-2022 school year

•Chiller (Fund 46 alternative)

•Learning loss programs, data development, staffing, and training. (transportation?)

•Summer School/Jump Start

•Food service costs

•Custodial costs

•Mental health services

2022-2023 school year

•Grade 2 teacher

•Grade 3 Teacher

•Learning loss programs, data development, staffing, and training. (transportation?) Personnel report The board approved the following district personnel changes: Hires: Kacie Duval, EES Panther Kids Club staff; Elizabeth Hauser, district-wide math specialist; Joseph Larson, EHS .67 science teacher/EMS .33 Spanish teacher; Michelle Prissel, EES special education teaching assistant, .40 FTE.

Transfers: Teri Birdsall, EMS special education teaching assistant, from 5.75 hours/day to eight hours per day; Brandy Blanch, EMS special education teaching assistant, 5.75 hours/day to eight hours per day; Nancy Huntley, from mental health coordinator-.60 FTE to .7- FTE; Stacie Robey, from EHS special education teaching assistant to EHS alternative education teaching assistant.

Resignations: Cory Brathall, EHS alternative education teaching assistant; Nash Gilles, EHS science teacher .67 FTE/EMS Spanish teacher .33 FTE; Tyler LaRose, EHS Spanish teacher; Mattie Thurmes, speech therapist assistant; Julie Winegar, EHS tech ed teacher.

Extra/co-curricular: Kristen Elbe, mentor; Renee Helgeson, mentor; Marcie Jahnke, science department chair.

Other business

•The board approved an early 4YK admittance request for a child born on Sept. 13.