July 2004 E-Newsletter

School Bus Grant Reauthorization
Let's ensure that Illinois schools have funds to clean up old, dirty school buses. Help us by signing onto a letter to Congressman Ray LaHood. He is a member of the appropriations subcommittee currently considering the Bush Administration's $65 million request for a national clean school bus grant program. His leadership to secure full funding is essential to provide long-term health and environmental benefits for our youth. We ask that you join us in urging for the Congressman's leadership by signing onto our letter.
CLICK HERE to sign onto our letter

Healthy Schools Campaign Activities

Healthy and High Performing School Construction Taskforce
On May 3rd, HSC and the Illinois Capital Development Board convened the first Healthy and High-Performing Schools taskforce meeting in Springfield. The goal of the taskforce is to create a healthy and high performing schools guidance document for school administrators.

The taskforce is comprised of more than 25 educational, health, building, and environmental organizations. The group is scheduled to meet a total of three times over the next 9 months. If you are interested in getting more information on this project, contact Mark Bishop at mark@healthyschoolscampaign.org.

CPS School Food Taskforce
On June 23rd, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education unanimously passed a policy that establishes nutritional standards for all snacks sold in vending machines across the district. Members of the CPS Taskforce to Promote Healthy Eating & Smart Choices will provide input and recommendations on the proposed products in the coming months.

This taskforce has been convened to build a partnership between community-based institutions and all members of the CPS community to promote lifelong, healthy eating and active lifestyles among students. For more information, contact Camille Reid at camille@healthyschoolscampaign.org.

Authorization of the Child Nutrition Act
On June 24th, Congress reauthorized the Child Nutrition Act, which provides funding to all federal feeding programs, including school breakfast and lunch programs. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Bush before the June 30th expiration date.

Many of HSC's priorities were supported in the bill. These provisions represent a commitment by Congress to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthy eating habits in schoolchildren. The bill:

. Authorizes five states to eliminate the reduced-price category, providing free school meals to children from families up to 185% of the poverty level
. Renews and expands the free fruit and vegetable program
. Establishes a farm-to-school grant program
. Provides resources to schools to promote a healthy school nutrition environment through:

o Local wellness policies-all schools participating in school lunch programs must establish a local wellness policy addressing their goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness
o Team Nutrition Network-establishes state systems to promote the nutritional health of schoolchildren through nutrition education
o Local Nutrition and Physical Activity Grants

IL Farm-to-School Taskforce
HSC has formed a statewide taskforce comprised of food service directors, agriculture and nutritional professionals, and policy experts to help evaluate the barriers and opportunities for developing a statewide farm-to-school program. On June 1st, taskforce members met at the Illinois Department of Agriculture to learn about HSC's pilot projects and to provide feedback. For more information, contact Camille Reid at camille@healthyschoolscampaign.org.

C ommunity Collaborative Holds Spring Meeting
On June 11, members of the Community Collaborative for Healthy School Environments met to discuss the CPS Taskforce to Promote Healthy Eating and Smart Choices. The meeting gave community representatives an opportunity to provide crucial feedback on the Taskforce's priorities and to join CPS working groups.

The Community Collaborative is comprised of staff from community-based organizations across Chicago. The group meets quarterly to learn about school environmental health and school food policies that affect CPS, and what they can do in their own schools to address these issues. If you are interested in joining the Community Collaborative, contact Louella Hung at louella@healthyschoolscampaign.org.

Midwest Farm-to-School Conference
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy is holding a meeting on farm-to-school issues in the Upper Midwest. This one-day event will be held at the Pyle Center in Madison, Wisconsin on August 5, 2004.

The meeting's purpose is to gather key groups and individuals who are working to further farm-to-school efforts in the Upper Midwest.

The meeting will be a working session to share successes and challenges, and identify ways in which possible collective action could further advance farm to cafeteria efforts in the region.

For more information or if you are interested attending this event, contact Rochelle Davis by email.

School Health Watch, Summer 2004 now available
Our latest newsletter has been published. To view it online or if you're interested in receiving a copy, CLICK HERE.

Summer Interns
HSC would like to welcome our two summer interns, Anna Mason and Kathleen King, to our office. Anna, a junior at Vassar College, is assisting us in completing outreach to superintendents around the state as well as conducting research on the financial benefits of healthy indoor environments for schools. Kathleen, a sophomore at Brown University next fall, is assisting us by conducting a statewide survey of school officials, and promoting Rochelle Davis' new book, Fresh Choices.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the book

HSC is Now Hiring
HSC is seeking a Director of Resource Development and Communications to work out of its downtown Chicago office. Reporting to the Executive Director, this person will be responsible for the management and on-going growth of the organization's Resource Development and Communications programs. This key position will also supervise one assistant, who will offer support in foundation management and special events. For more information, CLICK HERE.

HSC In The News
June 10, 2004
"Press Congress for more clean school bus funds As a member of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Bush administration's $65 million request for a national clean school bus grant program ("Cat praised for school bus project," June 4), Congressman Ray LaHood can help the long-term health of both the children and industry of Peoria and Illinois by leading the charge to obtain full funding."
CLICK HERE to read the full Peoria Journal Star article

News Briefs and Research Notes

Greening Schools Grant Program
As part of the Safe and Healthy Schools Initiative, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has created the Greening Schools Grant Program to fund environmental improvement projects and activities at K-12 schools in Illinois.

Funding for selected projects will be available to purchase products and/or equipment that will improve indoor environmental conditions, reduce waste, and enhance energy efficiency.
CLICK HERE to learn more

The Obesity Warriors: June 7, 2004
Claudia Wallis, Time Magazine
"We as a society have really abdicated responsibility for teaching kids how to eat right and how to have an active lifestyle... Promoting their (student) physical well-being should be part of the school's educational mission."
CLICK HERE for the full article

New School Gets Green Thumbs Up: May 12, 2004
Ana Beatriz Cholo, Chicago Tribune
Chicago will break ground Wednesday for the city's first certified "green" elementary school, an eco-friendly structure featuring drought-resistant plants on the roof, solar panels, harvested rainwater, and flooring made of recycled glass.
CLICK HERE for the full article

Alternatives to Diesel Buses Gain Momentum: May 12, 2004
Education Week On the Web
It often begins with one bus. Such was the case in the Naperville Community School District outside Chicago two years ago, after fleet-maintenance manager Thomas A. Pelletier got a note from a parent asking what the district was doing to reduce toxic emissions from its diesel-fueled vehicles.
CLICK HERE for the full article

School Vending Machines "Dispensing Junk": May 11, 2004
Center for Science in the Public Interest
A nationwide survey about vending machines in middle schools and high schools finds that 75 percent of the drinks and 85 percent of the snacks sold are of poor nutritional value.
CLICK HERE for the full article

Preventing Diabetes: May 1, 2004
Claudia Wallis, Time Magazine
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics identified a link between the intake of sweetened soft drinks and obesity. In reaction, the group issued a policy statement urging physicians, parents, teachers, and school board members to push for the elimination of sweetened soft drinks in their community schools.
CLICK HERE for the full article

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The Illinois Healthy Schools Campaign is a non-for profit organization with more than 90 endorsing organizations that works to improve the school indoor air and school food environments. Visit us at www.healthyschoolscampaign.org.