Contact legislators on HB 373/SB 210

Your help is needed to contact our representatives in the Ohio House of Representatives. The legislature is expected to vote on House Bill 373 and/or Senate Bill 210, the Healthy Choices, Healthy Children Act before they leave for summer recess later this month. An area of concern is the requirement of 30 minutes of moderate to rigorous physical activity for grades K-12 that this legislation calls for. This would add one more thing to the schools agenda as well as possibly decrease instructional time in some of the core subjects. Please contact your legislator today and ask them to remove this provision from the bill entirely.

Physical activity is important to a healthy life style, however without the additional funding this would be perceived as another unfunded mandate that our district and others in the state would be burden with in the toughest of economic times. Instead of imposing a mandate, Ohio should follow the lead of national initiatives such as First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign and work to increase or even expand existing grants that encourage student health and wellness.

Please make calls, send e-mails, and write letters to our representatives in the Ohio House and their aides today. Without direct input from constituents like you, lawmakers are not likely to oppose the physical activity provision. Your help is greatly appreciated!

For contact information on your legislative representatives, click here or below:

State Representative Matt Patten 18th District
Address:
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-4895
Fax: (614) 719-6957
Email: district18@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Josh Mandel 17th District
Address:
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6041
Fax: (614) 719-6956
Email: district17@ohr.state.oh.us

More information on the legislation:

HB 373 Bill Summary
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/analysis.cfm?ID=128_HB_373&ACT=As%20Introduced&hf=analyses128/h0373-i-128.htm

SB 210 Bill Summary
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/analysis.cfm?ID=128_SB_210&ACT=As%20Passed%20by%20Senate&hf=analyses128/s0210-ps-128.htm

Sun Newspaper Article on my Testimony on SB 210
http://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/05/north_royalton_school_board_me.html

Sun Newspaper Editorial
http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2010/05/state_officials_on_the_right_t.html

Dan Langshaw
North Royalton School Board Member
"Putting Students First"