Superintendent O'Connell and Senator Torlakson Present Awards to
Three School Districts for Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies

LOS ANGELES — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the winners of the second annual Superintendents' Challenge. The Superintendents' Challenge is a unique public-private initiative that encourages innovative nutrition and fitness programs in California schools.

"These three extraordinary, winning school districts rose to the challenge aimed at increasing the health and well-being of their students," said O'Connell. "The real winners today are the students who will reap the benefits of developing healthy habits at an early age.

The winners of this year's Superintendents' Challenge are:

• Columbia Elementary School District, Shasta County
  Combined Nutrition and Physical Activity Category
• Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
  Nutrition Category
• North Cow Creek Elementary School District, Shasta County
  Physical Fitness Category

Three of every four California students are considered unfit and more than a quarter of them are overweight, according to a recent study of fifth, seventh, and ninth graders. Nationwide, only 51 percent of today's children and youth eat even one serving of a fruit or vegetable each day.

"We know that good nutrition and physical activity are linked to improved academic performance," said O'Connell. "We also know that healthy habits learned as a child stay with us for life. This program is key to providing California students with the tools they need to grow strong both physically and mentally and to turn around the growing obesity trend in California and the nation."

The Superintendents' Challenge is a coordinated effort among O'Connell; the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness, chaired by Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch); and the Dairy Council of California. The Challenge invites local school districts across California to improve the health of their students through the development and implementation of policies that promote proper nutrition and physical activity.

Each school district that participated in the Challenge this year will receive recognition from the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness. The three most exemplary districts each will receive a certificate, a banner proclaiming they are a "2005 Superintendents' Challenge Winner," and a cash award of $3,250.

"Dairy Council of California is honored to be a sponsor of this year's Superintendents' Challenge," said Tammy Anderson-Wise, Director of Program Services, Dairy Council of California. "The Superintendents' Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to reward school districts for their exceptional efforts in teaching children how to make healthy lifestyle choices. We congratulate all of this year's winners."

Winning policies included limiting fundraising efforts to include only nutritionally appropriate foods or non-food items like T-shirts and ties; incorporating nutrition, gardening and physical activity into the academic curriculum of such subject matters as English, math and science; and limiting use of electronic entertainment during the school day.

"We know there is a direct link between good nutrition, physical fitness, and student achievement," said Senator Torlakson, Task Force Chair. "The strides that school districts are making to improve student nutrition and physical activity are important not only in terms of student health but play a critical role in student academic success. I congratulate all the districts that met and applied for this year's Challenge as well as those who are now undertaking this important work."