Scotia-Glenville has received the federal Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. It was one of three school districts in New York state to receive the grant.

John Geniti, Scotia-Glenville director of athletics and physical education, submitted the grant and said the $464,468 will go toward the purchase of:

• Purchasing heart rate monitors projection systems for cardio workouts for physical education classes at all six schools

• Fitness equipment such as exercise bikes and treadmills for physical education classes

• Outdoor education equipment, snow shoes, cross country skis and inline skates for use in physical education classes and intramural programs

• Staff training to incorporate the equipment into daily classes.

Over the past two years, Scotia-Glenville has made significant moves to improve the health and wellness of its nearly 3,000 students.

Beginning in September 2007, certain types of foods were prohibited from the school district and the remaining ones used for classroom celebrations and for sale were curtailed.

Among the wellness guidelines: classroom celebrations involving food were limited to two times per month; only commercially pre-packaged and store-bought goods that have ingredient labels should be used; food/can will not longer to used as a “reward;” vending machines used by students offer only 100% fruit juice, water or unsweetened tea; snack machines used by students must have at least 50% healthy choices and may not have candy; school-sponsored groups (clubs, PTA, booster clubs, etc.) are prohibited from selling candy, cookie dough, soda, fruit drinks (less than 100% juice) or home baked goods for their fund-raising activities; whole milk in the lunch program was eliminated. Only 100% juice, low fat and skim milk, unsweetened tea and water are offered to students.

As well, Scotia-Glenville students have been getting more physical education time.

Beginning in September 2007, students in grades 4 and 5 received an extra 40 minutes each week of physical education. Beginning in September 2008, students in grades 1-3 also received an additional 40 minutes of physical education each week.

Those improvements make Scotia-Glenville one of the few area schools to meet the state mandates for physical education time.

The award was part of the $26.5 million in Carol M. White Physical Education Programgrants distributed by the U.S. Department of Education to 73 public schools and community-based organizations in 25 states with funds to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for students in grades K-12.

“Physical activity and healthy eating habits are as important as studying hard in school,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The Department of Education will be doing more to make this connection to students and adults and to educate our children in ways that can maintain good health.”

The grant awards can be used to provide equipment and support for students to participate actively in physical education activities, as well as for staff and teacher training and education. Since the program began in 2001, the department has awarded approximately $555 million in grants.