Healthy School Team Responsibilities & Food Fundraising Guidance

Healthy School Teams

Charter Schools | FY26

What is a Healthy School Team?

The Wellness Promotion Policy (2.035) requires each school to establish a Healthy School Team (HST) to ensure schools are creating healthier environments, fostering a cohesive wellness culture, and complying with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Smart Snacks in School Standards.

To access the HST webpages click the buttons below to visit the HST Webpage or view HST Resources.

HST Webpage

HST Resources

Who should be on my school's HST?

As a member of your school’s HST, you help foster an environment where health, learning, and community thrive. Serving on the HST provides the opportunity to lead wellness initiatives, make healthy choices the easy choice, and ensure that activities—such as food fundraisers—are both enjoyable and compliant with the rules.

Healthy School Team Lead

As best practice, we recommend that an Assistant Principal be the school's HST Lead.

Healthy School Team Members

Ideally, representatives from each of the ten WSCC components should be included.

HST Possible Members List

Who are your HST Members?

FY26 CHARTERS' HEALTHY SCHOOL TEAM MEMBERS

We created a Google form to gather the names of HST members for your school which includes the Healthy School Team Lead (one per school) and the Healthy School Team Members (at least 3 members).

Please complete the FY26 CHARTERS' HEALTHY SCHOOL TEAM MEMBERS.

Only two schools completed the FY26 HST Google form .

Therefore, for some schools, the list below reflects information carried forward

from previous submissions (FY23 - FY25) to ensure continuity of records

This spreadsheet has the latest

Healthy School Team Leads *

pulled from previously completed forms.

This spreadsheet has the latest

Healthy School Team Members *

pulled from previously completed forms.

*If your HST members are not accurate, please submit an update by filling out the Google form.

*If your school name is highlighted, we have not received any previous submissions.

What are the responsibilities of the HST?

Meet as Needed to...

Utilize the Cha rter S chools Presentation Template to go over the responsibilities of the HST.
Discuss items such as food fundraisers, school culture, and special events and/or requests.
Promote the "Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child" (WSCC) Model.
Support the goals and objectives of the School Food Service Management Policy (6.185 Section 5), and the Wellness Promotion Policy (2.035).

Food Fundraising During the School Day!

Help ensure your school remains in compliance with the Food Fundraising Guidelines when selling food to students during the school day.
Ensure your school submits all required paperwork prior to all food fundraisers - One Entry Form Per Fundraiser - Food Fundraising Tracking Form (FY26).
Ensure food items sold to students during the school day are not combination foods. There are NO EXEMPTIONS for combination foods.

Wellness Promotion Policy Required School Assessment

The triennial School Wellness Promotion Policy Assessment is a required tool to evaluate compliance with WPP (2.035) and measure progress toward wellness goals.
HST members must assist with the completion for the FY26 assessment tool. While it is a comprehensive questionnaire that requires input from various members of your school staff, only ONE person from each school should be tasked to complete the official online FY26 assessment tool.
Monitor and provide input on the school’s compliance with wellness guidelines.

Food Fundraising Made Easy!

Step 1: Chose the Allowable Selling Timeline for your Food Fundraiser

Find the time your last lunch period ends, then add 30 minutes, that’s the earliest you can start selling food to students during the school day up to 30 minutes after the official school day ends (last bell). Example: If last lunch ends at 1:00 p.m. and school ends at 3:00 p.m., your allowable selling timeline is between 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

No Combination Foods - "entrée-like" items - that contain a protein and a grain (pizza, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.) can be sold during the school day—these may only be sold 30 minutes after the school day ends. There are NO EXEMPTIONS for combination foods.

Step 2: Ensure the food item meets Smart Snacks standards using the Approved Beverage List, Approved Smart Snacks List, or the Smart Snack Calculator.

If yes → you must still follow the timeline rules above.

If no → Ensure your school has enough exemption days. The State of Florida allows schools limited number of exempt fundraiser days each school year to sell foods that are not Smart Snack Compliant (entree-like foods are not exempt):

Elementary: 5 days
Middle: 10 days
High School: 15 days
Combination schools (K-8, 6-12, K-12): 10 days

Step 3: Complete all required paperwork.

Submit a Food Fundraiser Tracking Form before each event.

More HST Resources

HST Bulletin

HST Overview

Food Fundraising Guidelines

Would you like Food Fundraising Guidelines pamphlets sent to your school?

Would you like to meet with us for additional guidance?

Please email healthyschoolteams@palmbeachschools.org.

Paula Triana, RDN, LDN

Manager ~ Wellness Promotion

District's Wellness Promotion Task Force

School Food Service Department

3661 North Interstate Park Road, Suite #100

Riviera Beach, Florida 33404

Office Phone: (561) 383-2026

Cell Phone: (561) 253-5583

Email: paula.triana@palmbeachschools.org

Frances F. Rosier

Wellness Promotion Sr. Analyst

District's Wellness Promotion Task Force

School Food Service Wellness Champion

School Food Service Department

3661 North Interstate Park Road, Suite #100

Riviera Beach, Florida 33404

Office Phone: (561) 882-1931

Email: frances.rosier@palmbeachschools.org

Megan Rimpel

Wellness Promotion Analyst

District's Wellness Promotion Task Force

School Food Service Department

3661 North Interstate Park Road, Suite #100

Riviera Beach, Florida 33404

Office Phone: (561) 383-2074

Email: megan.rimpel@palmbeachschools.org

Hilary Vandersluis, RDN, LDN

Nutrition Specialist

Nutrition Services

School Food Service Department

3661 North Interstate Park Road, Suite #100

Riviera Beach, Florida 33404

Office Phone: (561) 383-2041

Email: hilary.vandersluis@palmbeachschools.org

Interested in subscribing?

Email us: wellness@palmbeachschools.org

Disclaimer: Information, viewpoints, opinions and comments expressed in this 'Healthy School Team Highlights + Food Fundraiser Guidance (Charter School)' newsletter are those of the individual organization(s) and/or presenter(s), are for informational purposes only, and may not indicate ratification or sponsorship by The School District of Palm Beach County. We are sending out this newsletter to provide information that may be helpful to our students and their families, staff, and the community-at-large.