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HSC UPDATES

WGN Back-to-School Kids Fair

On August 12th, HSC partnered with Chartwells-Thompson & Growing Power to sponsor a booth at WGN’s annual Back-to-School Kids Fair, held on site at the WGN studios. Hundreds of parents and students came out and sampled tasty fruits, veggies, and healthy snacks. Participants also received water bottles and information about healthier food choices and healthy food fundraisers.

Illinois Education Excellence Task Force

On August 29, Guillermo Gomez, HSC’s Director of the Partnership to Reduce Disparities in Asthma and Obesity in Latino Schools testified before the Governor’s Higher Standards, Better School Plan-Illinois Education Excellence Task Force. Guillermo emphasized the important connection between learning healthy and the environment, and noted that when addressing education, health is often overlooked.

Guillermo concluded his testimony by presenting the Healthy Schools Campaign’s state platform highlighting three of the twelve recommendations:

1. Promoting Green Cleaning as a cost-effective strategy for reducing student and staff exposure to toxic chemicals in schools.
2. Establishing health-based nutrition standards for all foods served in schools including a la carte items in the food service program; food and beverage choices in vending machines, snack bars, school stores, and concession stands; and food and beverages sold as part of school-sponsored fundraising activities.
3. Promoting the integration of nutrition and physical education in the curriculum by having the State Board of Education identify nutrition and physical education as a priority under Section 25.805 of the School Code.

Gery Chico, Taskforce Chairman, noted that out of the 30 groups giving testimony, the Healthy Schools Campaign and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization were the only groups addressing the important issue of school health.

Green Flag Green Schools

On August 30th, the Healthy Schools Campaign held a Green Flag Environmental Education Workshop with the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. The workshop was attended by community groups and schools representing Englewood, Pilsen, Little Village, Humboldt Park and West Town. The Green Flag Introductory Workshop 101/Environmental Education Workshop was an introduction to participants in making the connection of school, health, learning and community. Four key issues were discussed, Indoor Air Quality, Non-Toxic Products, Recycling and Integrated Pest Management.

Participants pledged to work with the Healthy Schools Campaign’s Community Collaborative and implement the Green Flag Program at their schools. The goals of the 2005-2006 Community Collaborative are to:

• Engage communities impacted by health disparities
• Deepen commitment of community organizations
• Develop trainings, tools and action plans
• Encourage members to work together
• Develop policy recommendations

We thank the teachers, community groups, school nurses and parents for their participation. Also we acknowledge the following speakers for making the Green Flag Environmental Workshop so informative and successful:

• Steven Whitman, Ph.D. - Director, Sinai Urban Health Institute
• Tammy Dillard-Steels - Environmental Health Director, Healthy Schools Campaign
• Stacey Gonzalez - Child Proofing Our Communities Coordinator, The Center for Health, Environment and Justice
• Julie Wagner - Program Associate, Safer Pest Control Project
• Robert Kravitz - Author, AlturaSolutions Communications

Safe Routes to Schools

In August, a nationwide Safe Routes to School program became a reality when both the federal and Illinois bills were signed into law. The new national transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, was signed by President Bush on August 10th, designating for the first time $612 million in funds for states to fund Safe Routes to School projects, with approximately $20 million for Illinois. Highlights include the creation of a national Safe Routes Clearinghouse and Task Force. States are also required to designate a Safe Routes to School Coordinator. Find out more about the SAFETEA-LU at http://www.bikeleague.org/mediacenter/SAFETEA_LU.pdf

On August 8th, Gov. Blajojevich signed House Bill 744, which charges the Illinois Department of Transportation with establishing a Safe Routes to School Construction Program. The bill lists selection criteria by which projects will be chosen. Read House Bill 744 by clicking here.

Upcoming Workshops

Local School Wellness Policy: A Team Approach

The National Food Service Management Institute is planning a two-hour program on Local School Wellness Policy Development, which will be delivered nationwide via satellite October 18, 2005. The primary goal of the program is to provide child nutrition professionals and other key players in the school and community an opportunity to hear the most current school wellness policy information. The program will feature local school districts that have health and wellness efforts already under way. It will also allow participants the opportunity to call in and have their questions answered by a panel of experts.

For more information visit: http://www.nfsmi.org/Education/Satellite/ss37/ss37_reg.htm

Safe Chemicals in Education Workshops

Safe Chemicals in Education Workshops are for science teachers and school administrators. Teachers will receive 1 CEU (or 6 CPDUs) and will qualify for free chemical pick up of educational hazardous materials from their schools by attending this workshop.

Two dates for workshops in the Chicago area have been finalized.

October 5, 2005 workshop at Roberto Clemente High School
http://www.greeningschools.org/docs/SafeChemicalsinEducation-CPS1.pdf

October 12, 2005 workshoo at South Shore High School
http://www.greeningschools.org/docs/SafeChemicalsinEducation-CPS2.pdf

To see the full schedule of 2005 workshops for this fall, search the Greening Schools calendar, http://www.greeningschools.org/news/calendar.cfm

Apply Now for All-Expense-Paid IAQ Asthma Triggers Workshop

National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is now selecting approximately 30 individuals for an all-expenses-paid trip to the IAQ Asthma Triggers Workshop, October 11-13, 2005 in Washington, DC.

NEHA is providing a comprehensive, 2½-day training course that is designed to reflect the new national priorities in addressing indoor air quality and health impacts resulting from IAQ contaminants. The course will be taught by recognized authorities in the indoor air field with a focus on presenting the latest health impact data and remediation strategies.

Applications must be received no later than close of business, September 9, 2005.

See http://www.neha.org/pdf/research/IAQ_workshop_announce.pdf for more details

Schools for Successful Communities

The U.S. EPA and The Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) developed this publication to explain why and how communities can employ smart growth planning principles to build schools that better serve and support students, staff, parents, and the entire community. While a first-rate education in a safe facility must always be the primary consideration when making school construction decisions, a growing number of communities are using these investments to meet multiple goals -- educational, environmental, health, economic, social, and fiscal.

Each community should use its education dollars to both fulfill academic considerations and to express the values and vision of the community. This publication helps communities invest in schools that will give children the best possible education, use taxpayer dollars wisely, and improve the quality of life for all citizens. Includes case studies and model state and local policies.

For an electronic version of this publication, go to: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/schools.htm

Or call (800) 490-9198 for a hard copy.

IN THE NEWS

Fresh Gets Invited to the Cool Table
August 24, 2005
Marian Burros, New York Times
Fresh food is becoming more popular (and more of a point of pride) at various universities across the country.

Fast Food Clusters Near Schools
August 23, 2005
Diane Rado, Chicago Tribune
Article explores issues of healthier food choices in Chicago schools, looking at the progress made and also barriers that remain.

Health Movement Has School Cafeterias in a Food Fight
August 21, 2005
Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY
Opinions are varied on whether efforts to eliminate junk food in schools is going too far.

Cafeteria Conundrum
August 2005
Heather Cunningham, Chicago Parent
Article explores issues of healthier food choices in Chicago schools, looking at the progress made and also barriers that remain.

What's On the Playing Field?
August 2005
Ryan Wenzel, Chicago Parent
Herbicides on school fields can hurt kids during play and sports activities.

School Bus Grant Reauthorized!
In a major victory years in the making, the National Clean School Bus Grant Program was signed into law not once but twice as part of both the Transportation and Energy bills. The bills would both fund a school bus retrofit and replacement program to the tune of $55 million per year.

School Lunch Breaks Get Shorter than Recommended 30 Minutes
Massachusetts State Representative Joyce A. Spiliotis has suggested a measure to mandate 30-minute lunch periods in schools. "Our children's physical and emotional needs are coming second to [test] scores in our state right now. If children aren't eating and don't get enough physical exercise, then they're not going to get back to class and pay attention. They're going to be lackadaisical and lethargic," she explained. Parents and nutrition groups have long been worried about reducing lunch time, which is not specified by the state or federal governments. Schools tend to keep lunch breaks to a minimum and boost class time. According to the School Nutrition Association in Alexandria, VA, in just two years, the nationwide average lunch period in elementary schools has shrunk from about 30 minutes to 23.7 minutes. The association recommends 26 minutes for lunch and an additional four minutes to get to the cafeteria.

Here’s how healthy food can reduce aggressive behaviour
Can healthy food solve behavior problems in schools?