Board Update

Good Afternoon:

If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me at call at 440-785-4240 or e-mail me at dan.langshaw@northroyaltonsd.org.

LAST WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

On May 19th, I held my Monthly Constituent Coffee at the French Quarter Café. I just wanted to thank those who stopped by to give me their feedback. I hold these monthly coffees in order to stay in touch with fellow residents and listen to their feedback. There is no appointment necessary. Simply stop by and talk to me. I will keep you posted when my next monthly coffee in June will be.

I attended the North Royalton Stadium Foundation’s Press Conference held on May 20th at the North Royalton City Schools Stadium. The North Royalton Stadium Foundation's sole purpose is to privately raise, with no taxpayer money, the necessary funds to renovate the High School Stadium with state-of-the-art synthetic turf and an eight lane all-weather track. Since 1940 our outdoor stadium has hosted countless soccer, football, band and track events. As you know, our community has grown significantly over the past 70 years, but our stadium has not kept pace with that change and growth. The group unveiled their plans for the project and has begun its’ fundraising campaign. The Stadium Foundation’s goal is to raise $1.4 million before February 2011 thereby allowing the construction of the turf and track to be completed before the 2011 fall sports season. If you would like to assist the NR Stadium Foundation with any fundraising efforts, please contact: NR Stadium Foundation Chairman, Larry Vasil at 440-570-2446. The group also has a website in which you can learn more about the project at www.nrstadiumfoundation.com.

As you may know I gave testimony on Senate Bill 210 Healthy Choices, Healthy Children legislation before the Ohio Senate’s Health, Human Services and Aging Committee, down at the Statehouse in Columbus two weeks ago. I just wanted to share with all the nice story and editorial that the Sun Newspaper did on my testimony and the issue.

SUN STAR COURIER
North Royalton School Board member Dan Langshaw discusses 'Healthy Kids' bill with Ohio Senate’s Health, Human Services and Aging Committee
By Sara Macho, Sun News
May 20, 2010, 10:04PM
NORTH ROYALTON Childhood obesity and nutrition concerns are sprouting up across the nation and Ohio Senate Bill 210 may bring these concerns closer to home.

School Board member Dan Langshaw testified last week to the Ohio Senate’s Health, Human Services and Aging Committee about the proposed “Healthy Choices, Healthy Children” legislation that may go into effect as early as next school year.

An amended substitute version of SB 210 was approved last Thursday. The bill calls for many provisions including the establishment of nutritional standards for certain foods and beverages sold in schools and changes in physical education.

Langshaw testified against another requirement calling for 30 minutes of moderate to rigorous physical activity each day for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

According to information released by the Ohio School Board Association, the bill was tweaked to include a provision allowing districts to annually apply to the Ohio Department of Education for a waiver from the 30-minute physical activity requirement.

A hotly debated requirement of periodic measuring of students’ body mass index was removed from SB 210. The measurement would have been part of each district’s state report card.

Langshaw said the school board actively supports the message of SB 210, but the logistics are complex

“We like the changes and it’s all going in the right direction, but it’s just a matter of can we practically do this,” Langshaw said

Langshaw did not have an estimate, but said it would cost the school district “a lot of money” to comply with the proposed legislation

As part of his testimony, Langshaw outlined to the committee what efforts are already being made within the district to ward off childhood obesity and promote health and wellness

The district recently received a $2,000 mini-grant from the Ohio Department of Education to hold an evening parent health and wellness academy. Representatives are also in the process of partnering with the city to host a health expo in conjunction with the 5K Bear Run Nov. 6. More than 100 vendors will be invited to participate.

As a member of the district’s Health and Wellness Committee, Langshaw said many issues are already being addressed at the local level.
“There is so much good we can do, but at the same time, we’re not the solution for everything,” Langshaw said. “Many things (in SB 210) are vague, unclear and very broad, and that concerns us. As a district, we are very fiscally responsible, and we do agree on this issue, but it is a matter of how to go about doing this.”
Education is also key in addressing health concerns, Langshaw said.
“If you really want to solve obesity there has to be more of an educational element to it,” he said. “Are you really educating them about obesity or are you just making them exercise for 30 minutes each day?”
Langshaw suggested the state should instead follow the lead of national initiatives like First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign. Existing health and wellness grants should also be increased and expanded.
SB 210 continues to be tweaked and more hearings are expected.
The Sun Newspaper also did an editorial on the issue as well that can be found at http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2010/05/state_officials_on_the_right_t.html


THIS WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

This week there is a City Rec. Board Meeting, Wellness Committee Meeting, and various other events.

City Recreation Board Meeting on May 25th at 6pm @ City Hall, 13834 Ridge Rd. North Royalton, OH 44133.

Wellness Committee Meeting on May 26th at 1:30pm @ Board of Education Office,
6579 Royalton Rd., North Royalton, OH 44133.

Have a Great Week!

Dan Langshaw
North Royalton School Board Member
440-785-4240
www.danlangshaw.com

“Putting Students First”