Mercedes Independent School District

Mercedes, Texas

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Categories	À la carte foods and beverages; Use fundraising activities and rewards; Resources used; Limit student access to competitive foods; Adopt marketing techniques to promote healthful choices; Nutrition policies and standards; Parental leadership; Establish nutrition standards for competitive foods; Make more healthful foods and beverages available
Problem Overview	5,000 total students in the southern tip of Texas 90 percent of students eligible for free and reduced-price school meals
Program/Activity Description	Mercedes nutrition policy was initiated by the district's 5-year self-improvement plan. The school food service director, assistant director, and student service coordinator used USDA’s Changing the Scene to conduct a self-assessment and National Association of State Boards of Education’s (NASBE) Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn to develop a basic policy. They then organized a diverse committee to modify and fine-tune it. The assistant superintendent provided important guidance in getting the policy adopted. Rather than a board policy requiring a lot of red tape, he suggested an administrative policy with the same effect—it had to be enforced. The policy, named the Student Nutrition/Wellness Plan, was submitted to the superintendent. With his direction, the committee met with principals individually, got feedback, made revisions, and submitted a final plan for approval. This process began in June 2001, and the Student Nutrition/Wellness Plan was finally approved in March 2002. The hard work began at this point. The goal of food service staff was “implementation without alienation;” that is, to continue positive relationships with other staff and to avoid being perceived as the “Nutrition Patrol.” By spring 2003, however, it was clear to the superintendent that many schools were not truly implementing the plan, and he asked the committee to revisit the nutrition plan and make it enforceable. The plan was tightened up and then approved by the board of trustees in April 2003. In-service training for administrators was intensified at the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year. Most principals also included training for their staff on the effect of the plan’s policies for their campuses. Some staff also made efforts to inform parents about how the plan affects what children can bring to school. In spring 2004, the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) met and revised the district policy to make it more consistent with the new Texas Public School Nutrition Policy of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Now, schools need only refer to one document for policy guidance.
Program/Activity Outcome	The district adopted a comprehensive nutrition policy—the Student Nutrition/Wellness Plan—effective April 15, 2003. The policy includes clear directions for action in each of the six components of a healthy school nutrition environment as defined by USDA’s Changing the Scene. The nutrition policy calls upon the SHAC to develop nutrition standards for foods and beverages offered at school functions; strictly limits the times when students can have access to foods of minimal nutritional value; limits the use of food as a reward for student accomplishment; and prohibits the use of candy as a fundraiser. In conjunction with the policy, all soft drinks have been removed from campuses and replaced with water, sport drinks, juice, and juice drinks. Some new options, such as fat-free ice cream bars, yogurt, and string cheese, have been added to the à la carte choices, and sales of these items have been strong. During the 2003-2004 school year, there was no significant change in food service revenue. State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., presented the district with a Senate Proclamation in April 2004 to recognize district efforts to create a healthy school environment. Nutrition has become a topic of conversation throughout the district, with principals becoming much more aware of the items sold in their schools. Organizations are searching for other sources of income to replace candy sales.
Story Highlights	Keys to Success: Resources: Use of USDA’s Changing the Scene to assess the environment and NASBE’s Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn to develop the initial plan Support: Backing from central administration and campus principals for the development of a plan focused on concerns for students’ overall health Involvement: Commitment of a diverse committee to develop the Student Nutrition/Wellness Plan, including student services coordinator (chair); food service director and assistant director; and athletic director, as well as school staff members and three parents from each campus (all appointed by principals) Gradual Approach: Willingness to take small, gradual steps toward improving the nutrition environments in Mercedes ISD schools
Words of Wisdom	"As one of our committee members stated last year, ‘[I]t has taken a long time for us to have dug ourselves into this deep hole. It will also take time to crawl out of it.’ As I become impatient with our progress, I try to remember his words, and they calm me. We have been successful by taking baby steps toward achieving our goal, rather than bombarding our way through and creating a lot of opposition." — Donna Fryar, Assistant Director, Child Nutrition Services
Program Contact	Donna Fryar

Page last reviewed: February 27, 2013
Page last updated: February 27, 2013
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