TASD plans to use its award to provide additional opportunities for school hour and non-school hour physical activities for students. The Southwest Educational Cooperative will collaborate with TASD on this project by providing professional development activities in physical education.

"It is important that we make every effort to ensure the safety and health of our children by making a healthy lifestyle a priority in their lives," Ross said. "These funds will allow students of the Texarkana Arkansas School District to improve their physical well-being. In this day when childhood obesity is so rampant, educating today’s youth about good nutrition and activities to enhance physical, social or mental developments are critical to their development."

"Physical education is important to keeping our children active and healthy," said Lincoln. "I applaud the Texarkana Arkansas School District for obtaining federal dollars that will help further develop its physical education program."

"Plenty of exercise and good nutrition are vital to the health and well-being of children. This grant is well-deserved and will allow students to explore new activities as well as develop life-long healthy habits," said Pryor

The project will provide an alternative to the current program that places a heavy emphasis on varsity sports, by providing students access to developmentally appropriate activities including hiking, aerobics, strength training, and jumping rope. The program will also include instruction in healthy eating and good nutrition. Health and physical education teachers will participate in a variety of professional development activities that focus on state standards and frameworks in physical education and combating childhood obesity. Teachers will also receive instruction in implementing assessments to help students track their progress in meeting state physical education standards, as well as in providing instruction to students related to some of the new physical education equipment that will also be purchased under the grant.

The purpose of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program is to provide funds to local educational agencies and community-based organizations to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs for K-12 students. The grant funds equipment, support, and the training and education of teachers and staff in an effort to meet state standards for physical education.

TASD, home to approximately 4,600 students, is comprised of one high school (9-12), one junior high school (7-8), one middle school (5-6), and five elementary schools (K-4).

-30-