Superintendents, school boards and school principals all play a key role in increasing access to physical activity opportunities at schools and in communities. Schools are often viewed as a safe haven and as centers of the community, but many times the doors and gates will be locked after school hours.

Parents and community members need tangible resources to assist them in educating key school administrators about the practices of shared use and how this can help increase physical activity and help in the fight to reverse childhood obesity. School board members have the ability to pass policies that enable shared use practices. Superintendents can work with school board members to shape a vision for shared usefrom a district-wide level. Principals working with community members and parents can implement shared use practices at their school sites.

We know that school administrators face competing priorities in balancing academic performance with school health issues, so it is important to emphasize both school health and academic performance. During this webinar, the Safe Routes Partnership releases new resources to help advocates have those conversations with key school personnel. Shared use strategies can achieve positive outcomes for students’ physical activity and academics.

SPEAKERS:

• Mikaela Randolph, shared use campaign manager, Safe Routes Partnership
• Teresa Dahl, director, Community School Park Program, People for Parks
• Tracy Bartley, director, Community School Park Program, People for Parks