Healthy schools: News wrap up

Child nutrition bill skids to a halt The Washington Post reports on how a child nutrition bill that was central to efforts by  First Lady Michelle Obama to reform the quality of school food stalled in the House this week. Critics, including anti-hunger groups and more than 100 Democrats, protested the use of food stamp dollars to pay for it. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate over the summer and would have mandated strict nutrition standards for all food sold in schools, according to the Post. It also would have increased spending on school meals and other nutrition programs by $4.5 billion over 10 years – the first increase since 1973. The legislation must be reauthorized every five years. In 2009, Congress passed a one-year extension.

Put your walking shoes on International Walk to School Day is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 6. Check with your child’s school district to see what events – if any – are planned. At a minimum, join people around the globe walking to school Wednesday. And, if your school doesn’t have anything planned, why not try to get something going – if not this year, then next year? Several schools in Douglas County have already gotten the word to students and families about International Walk to School Day. They include: 

Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School, Northridge Elementary School, Cougar Run Elementary School and Trail Blazer Elementary School. 

In the U.S., International Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states.

Is your school participating? Let us know by posting a comment.

About our First Person series:

First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others trying to improve public education. Read our submission guidelines here.