curnowc Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL School District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana November 16, 2010 The School Health Advisory Council met Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 213 of the Lincoln Center. Virginia Mermel presided over the meeting. Attending were, Bernie Mason, Karen Dawson, Kay Schwartz, Marv Forquer, Bette Hunt, Jay Wahl, Reece Kalfell, Robert Roe, Laura Holmlund, Elizabeth Clemins, Bev McHugh, Trustee Travis Kemp, and Thomas Harper. Guests included Ken Ard Introductions Virginia Mermel welcomed the committee and introduced new members and guests. Over-arching Goals For 2010/2011 School Year Committee members from the YMCA were not present, therefore not allowing for the physical activity goal planning for this school year to take place. Elementary Cross Country Event Virginia Mermel reported on the success of the elementary cross country season that culminated in a 1-mile run that took place at Pioneer Park in October. Over 425 children from all over Yellowstone County participated compared with around 87 last year. Virginia proposed that SHAC should encourage more schools to participate next year. Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill – Implications for SD#2. The bill is still pending. It passed the Senate in Aug but is held up in the Congress. New Healthier U.S. School Challenge Awards – Cash for School-How Can We Extend Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies to Win the Most Money? Whether or not the Child Nutrition bill is reauthorized, the USDA is incentivizing schools to improve their nutrition environment by offering cash awards in addition to the Healthier US School Challenge Award plaques introduced in 2007. There are 4 levels of prizes from $500 for a Bronze award to $2500 for a Gold with Distinction School. Thanks to wellness changes that are already in place all SD#2 schools will be able to qualify for $500 right away. Schools can reapply for a higher award and additional cash if they meet additional wellness award criteria. Marketing To Children Act The Marketing to Children Act and the Hunger Free Weekends Act may not make it to a floor vote this session, meaning they may drop off the legislative agenda altogether. The US is the only industrialized country that allows direct marketing of food products to children. BackPack Meals Program A lengthy discussion took place regarding chronic hunger in our schools and community. Hopefully the roughly $100,000.00 that was raised thus far, will accommodate the needs of 404 identified hungry children in the schools for this school year. Karen Dawson pointed out that many hungry high school and even middle school children have not been identified if they don’t have a young sibling in the elementary schools that participate in the BackPack Meals Program. The problem of student hunger is even greater than it seems. She suggested some SHAC members make presentations regarding the number of students requiring free and reduced cost meals and BackPack meals to the City Council and County Commissioners as hunger represents issues that go beyond schools. Virginia serves as a liaison on a number of community committees that address hunger, homelessness and poverty. She reported that there is a coordinated effort to address the root causes of poverty but it will take a long time to see results. A lengthy discussion took place on different ideas of how to provide food for the hungry. It was suggested that teaming up with the City and County efforts on homelessness, the Salvation Army on the Community Gardens Project, the Neighborhood Task Forces , which Laura Holmund participates in as part of her job with RiverStone Health, etc. Virginia Mermel asked that the “Be There Billings Help End Childhood Hunger” brochure be mailed to all school administrators and counselors so that parents in need can be quickly connected with support services. Expanding Summer Lunch Program Summer is a time of hunger for many children who rely on free and reduced cost meals while in school. Virginia and Karen said SD#2 needs to reach more kids with its summer lunch program and to consider how to get summer time BackPack meals to those who rely on them during the school year. Under the current USDA rules, only about 2000 of the 5500 Free and Reduced Meals kids have access to summer meals. Plus, SD#2 has asked if SHAC can help expand the extracurricular offerings during the Summer Lunch in the Park Program because many kids wanted to stay and play. Liability is an obstacle to providing playtime. Bernie offered to contact Park and Rec to see if they have staff that can help provide physical activity instruction at summer lunch sites at least a couple of days a week. Laura offered to ask Adela Awner at Interfaith Hospitality Network if her site could distribute summer BackPack meals. Approval of Minutes Laura Holmund moved to approve the minutes of the October 12, 2010 School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meeting. Bette Hunt seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Concerned Parent At the end of the meeting, Ken Ard, whose children attend Orchard Elementary, expressed concern about his children not receiving recess on a daily basis. He was referred to Kathy Olson, Executive Director of Elementary Ed. and Gail Surwill, Curriculum Director. Respectfully submitted: __________________________ Virginia Mermel, Chair ____________________ Cindy Curnow, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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