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Illinois School Board Journal
July/August 2007
Mary E. Todoric is director of communication for Community High School District 128 in Vernon Hills, Illinois, and is a member of the Illinois chapter of the National School Public Relations Association.
The key to success when developing and implementing a new program in any school district is to engage stakeholders. Whether it is placing a referendum question on the ballot or changing a grading policy, parents and community members need to be involved on the ground level so that all concerns and input can be taken into consideration.
In doing so, the district not only receives additional points of view, but the parents and community members know that their input is valued. Added benefits to community engagement are that the community gains additional trust in the district and feels a greater sense of ownership of the program. And the district gains professional insight by tapping the related resources in the community.
In developing and updating school district wellness policies, school districts will clearly benefit from community dialogue. K-8 districts deal with very different issues in younger children than do high school districts, which are dealing with teenagers. Parents, teachers and medical professionals see children from different perspectives. How wonderful to bring all of the stakeholders together to look at the issue as it impacts the whole child as well as the whole community.
In response to the state's requirement that all Illinois school districts develop a wellness plan, Community High School District 128 approached the issue in a manner in which the district is accustomed — leaders of the project engaged the community in the process. The district believed that because the problem of childhood obesity impacts not only schools but the greater community as well, they felt strongly that they would be well served by engaging their greater community in the development of its wellness plan.
Childhood Obesity Prevention Program (COPP) was established at District 128 in spring 2006. Led by physical welfare department supervisors at both of the district's high schools, members of COPP include each school's respective principals, community representatives and feeder school districts to bring awareness to the problem of childhood obesity.
Following those discussions, the two groups joined forces to develop a district-wide team. The combined team's first meeting included physical educators, social workers, administrators, nurses, business partners and local healthcare professionals. Two area hospitals, Condell Medical Center and Alexian Brothers Hospital, also teamed with the group, sharing the scope of the program and data with the group, and giving statistics to support the concern and ramifications of the epidemic.
By the conclusion of this first meeting, the group not only completed a very thorough discussion of the topic, but also began drafting an action plan. The committee identified program strengths, weaknesses, common ground, and the positive and negative influences affecting each program.
Committee members believe that with dedication and hard work, they can turn this issue around and have the youth of the community become more aware of their nutrition and fitness levels. The committee is also working on writing a grant to fund the project.
Two months after the initial meeting, COPP hosted a community information night for parents of current and future District 128 students. A panel of healthcare professionals presented information regarding the topic and answered questions surrounding childhood obesity.
As school districts continue to develop and update their wellness plans, it is clearly to their benefit to make the process one of community engagement. Bringing parents and local professionals into the discussion is a win-win situation for everyone.
And, in doing so, school districts will be helping the most important stakeholders they have — their current and future students.