News
Mohonasen receives three-year, federal physical education grant to
expand programs
The goal: Increase overall student health and fitness
Sept. 30, 2011
Mohonasen officials learned this week that the district is one of 76 school districts and other education agencies in the country—and one of 10 in New York—to receive a Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant.
The U.S. Department of Education, three-year grant will provide Mohonasen with $644,572 in the first year to enhance and expand district-wide physical education and nutrition programs. Similar awards are expected in years two and three.
The funding is intended to improve student performance to meet/exceed state standards, as well as offer all students more programming in the way of health, fitness and nutrition. Grant funds are not intended to take the place of district physical education funding; instead the grant must be used to develop new programs for students.
District Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Joseph Scalise said every Mohonasen student will benefit from this grant. The main goal is to increase overall student health and fitness levels.
“This grant will help us bring cutting edge,
modern teaching tools to our physical education program,” Scalise
said. “Our goal is to make PE more interactive and technology
driven, and in turn help our students improve and maintain their
nutrition and overall health. These are skills that will last a
lifetime.”
Major components of the grant include curriculum development,
instruction, technology and professional development.
New programming will focus on providing students with more activity choices and opportunities, both in and outside of physical education class. This will be especially beneficial to those students who don’t typically benefit from the traditional “gym” model of team sport activities, including students with special needs. These programs will include new after-school programs, new indoor/outdoor activities, enhancement of the student fitness center at the high school and expanded wellness/nutrition education for students in all grades. All needed equipment and supplies will be purchased through the grant.
In addition, a new web portal will be developed and implemented to better monitor student fitness and progress on state standards. This data will then be used to inform the physical education curriculum and program development to ensure the district is meeting student needs.
The grant provides funding for a few staff positions for individuals to oversee the development and implementation of these initiatives.
“With the national focus on childhood obesity and nutrition intensifying, this grant will assist us in revamping our curriculum and instruction to better offer students lifelong skills that will improve their health,” Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring said.
“As state aid continues to decrease and we face the new realities of the tax cap and what it means for our district, it is getting harder and harder to maintain current programming. With this grant we will actually be able to enhance our physical education program, which is very uncommon in these times,” Spring added.
