What Does the Budget Debate in Springfield Mean for Healthy Schools?
With the Illinois General Assembly in overtime while legislators work to create a state budget, Healthy Schools Campaign believes that our state leaders need to consider the importance of school funding reform. With so many competing needs and forces shaping the budget, improving funding for schools must remain a priority.
Without sufficient funding, schools are unable to ensure a healthy, safe learning environment for all children.
When facing deficits, schools often make cuts to operations budgets, leaving buildings with problems such as poor indoor air quality and toxic mold. Inadequately funded schools are also pressured to use alternative revenue sources that don’t support student health, sources such as vending machine profits or other unhealthy food sales.
Healthy Schools Campaign supports the A+ Illinois efforts to promote fair and adequate funding for all Illinois schools. To show your support for full and fair school funding, you can sign the A+ Illinois pledge [pdf] and fax it to (312) 922-5619.
2007 Legislative Victories for School Health
2007 has been a year of important victories supporting improved school health in Illinois. Healthy Schools Campaign congratulates all the advocates who have worked hard to make real progress this year, with successes including:
Green Clean Schools Act (HB895). This bill, initiated by HSC, requires schools in Illinois to adopt green cleaning programs. The bill was sent to the governor June 14 and is expected to be signed. For more information, visit www.greencleanschools.org.
Energy Efficient School Construction Act (SB505). This bill, promoted by HSC and the American Institute of Architects, Illinois Chapter, requires all schools receiving state construction grants to meet energy efficient standards.
Integrated Pest Control in Schools Act (HB425). Safer Pest Control Project successfully advocated for this bill, which will support more effective implementation of integrated pest management in schools.
PE Waiver Reform (HB1839). The American Heart Association and the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance won this long overdue bill that limits school physical education waivers to a maximum of two years and limit districts to only two renewals of the waivers.
School Health Centers (SB715). The Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers successfully advocated for this bill, which requires the Department of Human Services to initiate 20 new school health centers over a five-year period and build capacity with existing school health centers.
Renewable Energy Grants (HB285). This bill requires the State Board of Education to establish and operate a renewable energy grant program to assist school districts in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy sources in the public schools.
Congratulations to everyone whose support made these victories possible!
HSC Team Trains for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
They’re off and running! Healthy Schools Campaign’s team of athletes running The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on October 7, 2007 has begun training and fundraising for this world class athletic event. Over 30 runners are dedicating their training efforts to our cause and have raised over $4,600 so far. Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s weekly news quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! is our honorary team captain.
If you are already registered for this race, we invite you to join our team. For more information, contact cheryl@healthyschoolscampaign.org. You can support the HSC team's efforts for only $26.20 -- just one dollar per mile! -- at our marathon team page.
HSC thanks School Health Corporation for generous support of our marathon team.
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