Community Partnerships benefit Saranac Lake CSD

Saranac Lake Central School District
Saranac Lake, New York
Franklin County (Northern Zone)
Heart of the Adirondack mountains, Tri-Lakes Region

Approximately 1,400 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 Saranac Lake Central School District is one of nineteen that the HSLI has worked with since 2005.

Saranac Lake CSD joined the HSLI in the spring of 2005. The district focused on developing a Wellness team at the Jr/Sr High School to complete the School Health Index, a self assessment and planning tool to improve school health and safety. It brought administration, the Board of Education, faculty/staff, students, and the community together to discuss areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. A result of this process was development of a school health improvement plan.

Although the District Health Coordinator position was not board-approved with a job description until 2008, Saranac Lake CSD had many committed individuals that volunteered their time to assist in working towards a healthier school environment.

 

Impact

Since 2005, Saranac Lake CSD:

Created a district-wide wellness committee, made up of administration, faculty/staff, students, and the community that meets monthly throughout the school year;
Completed the School Health Index district-wide and developed action plans based on these assessments for all five school buildings;
Developed a comprehensive nutrition policy that created healthier options in all cafeterias, vending machine, fundraising, and classroom activities;
Developed a comprehensive tobacco policy through work with the Tobacco Free Healthy Schools Partnership;
Contracted with a nutritional consultant for assistance in removing high sugar, fat, and sodium items from all school-based activities;
Increased the availability of fruits and vegetables and local farm purchases, decreased processed foods in the school meals program;
Implemented a K-12 breakfast program in all buildings in the district (previously only K-8 in one building);
Instituted a chef salad twice weekly at all school buildings;
Began phasing in 100 percent whole wheat rolls and brown rice;
Promoted comprehensive Worksite Wellness Program for faculty and staff through a partnership with a local hospital;
Implemented an elementary school health curriculum, "The Great Body Shop";
Revised the K-12 physical education curriculum; and
Improved physical activity through the purchase of a climbing wall in one building and implementation of a fitness center in the high school attained through a community grant.

 

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. Saranac Lake 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

Partnerships with the local community have really moved the Saranac Lake Healthy Schools Initiative forward. They were able to gain resources and funding for participation in wellness initiatives. Having a board-approved health coordinator was also something that ensured at least one committed individual was accounting for was happening across the district related to health and wellness.

 

Future Plans

In the next five years, Saranac Lake CSD will work to sustain their District Wellness Committee through recruitment and maintenance of key stakeholders. They will also seek out other committed partners from the community with the goals of improving student and staff health. Revisiting the School Health Index needs assessment in each building will help identify progress made an areas of future improvement. Finally, continued improvement of nutritional standards in the school meals program will be ongoing in the next five years.

 

Words of Wisdom: "Stay positive." Paul Leahy, Wellness Committee Coordinator

"Offer variety. You never know what works with each individual. Keep trying with a fresh approach." Kathy Hogan, School Nurse Teacher

 

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

Paul Leahy, Wellness Committee Coordinator

Saranac Lake Central School District

79 Canaras Avenue,

Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Phone: 518.891.4450

E-Mail: pleahy@slcs.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