Ilion CSD Excels! Healthier Students and Staff A Priority

Ilion Central School District
Ilion, New York
Herkimer County (Central North Zone)
Central New York

1,700 students

 

Issue

Obesity has tripled among teenagers and doubled among children 6 – 11 years old in the last 20 years. Students are becoming more sedentary and exhibit poor eating habits. Obesity increases the risk of many chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. Diets high in saturated fat, excess calories and sodium can contribute to the development of chronic diseases.

 

Method

The Healthy Schools Leadership Institute (HSLI) is a five-year, professional development program that focuses on building organizational capacity for healthier schools; effectively advocating for healthier schools; using assessment strategies to evaluate the school environment; leading and motivating others responsible for school health promotion; managing coordination of healthier schools; and, soliciting resources for this initiative. HSLI recruits schools to participate in the initiative. The Ilion Central School District is one of nineteen that the HSLI has worked with since 2005.

Karen Anderson, Health Educator and Renee Rudd, Jr/Sr High School Principal joined the HSLI in the spring of 2005. Creating healthier students and staff began in the Jr/Sr High School at Ilion CSD. A High School Wellness Team was established in June 2005 with their first task to complete the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s School Health Index (SHI). Since then, both elementary schools within the district have completed the SHI and created action plans to address areas in need of improvement.

 

Impact

Since 2005, Ilion CSD:

Created a Jr/Sr High School Wellness Committee, consisting of administration, faculty/staff, students, and the community;
Have a board-approved District Health Coordinator position with a job description;
Improved fundraising with decreased high fat/high sugar sales;
Created and implemented a healthy after school snack program;
Increased accessibility of water for students/staff within the high school;
Developed a board-approved Wellness Policy which assisted the Jr/Sr High School Wellness Committee to improve school nutrition programs by eliminating high fat/high sugar foods, serving only low-fat and fat-free milk, and providing more fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy food choices;
Offered a variety of fitness programs for faculty/staff after school, including Yoga, a walking club, and a marathon club; and
Installed climbing walls at both elementary schools as a result of completing the School Health Index and attaining grant funds.

Importance of Impact

Healthy school environments allow students to establish healthy habits that last a lifetime and encourage faculty and staff to be healthier, too. Ilion CSD recognizes this by involving students and staff in the process and providing them with the tools needed to improve their environment.

 

Keys to Success

Supportive administrators, staff, and community members are the key to making change in your school district. Faculty/staff willing to volunteer their time was instrumental in getting many items completed. Advocacy to get all of these partners on board at the beginning really built the foundation for a healthier Ilion CSD.

 

Future Plans

Ilion CSD plans to work toward maintaining and sustaining what they have accomplished this past five years. Keeping the momentum going through increased opportunities for physical activity/fitness is something that they will focus on.

 

Words of Wisdom: "The Healthy Schools Leadership Institute has afforded the Ilion Central School District with the outstanding opportunity of raising the awareness of healthy life styles, developing initiatives, and changing the paridigm for our students, faculty, staff, and community." Renee Rudd

 

For more information about health and wellness at Ilion Central School District, contact:

Karen Anderson, District Health Coordinator

Ilion Central School District

1 Golden Bomber Drive

Ilion, NY 13357

Phone: 315.895.7471

E-Mail: kanderson@ilioncsd.org

 

For information about the Healthy Schools Leadership Institute, contact:

Stephanie Gray, Program Director

Healthy Schools Leadership Institute

NYS Association for Health,

Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Phone: 518.568.5764

E-mail: sgray@nysahperd.org