Fridley Schools Snags $430,000 Federal Fitness Grant

The is celebrating a new federal grant that will help local schools improve student health and wellness.

The $431,661 from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program

The only other school district in Minnesota to get the grant this year is the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo district (ISD 2176) in northwestern Minnesota.

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Here is the Fridley School District's announcement about the grant:

Fridley Public Schools is only one of two schools systems in MN that has been awarded the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant by the U.S. Department of Education. The award, which totals $431,661, will be used for the district’s Fit for Learning Fit for Life initiative that will benefit student wellness. The school board accepted the award at its August 21, 2012 meeting.

The primary goal of the Fridley Public Schools’ Fit for Learning Fit for Life student initiative is to address identified programmatic health, wellness, and physical education weakness and institute programs and activities using school-based and community supports for students in Grades K-12 that will enable them to become physically fit, eat a healthy diet, and establish positive habits for long healthy lifestyles.

PEP (Carol M. White Physical Education Program) is a competitive grant program managed by the U.S. Department of Education. PEP grants are awarded to schools and community based organizations that provide innovative P.E. and physical activity programs for America’s youth. This year, the U.S. Department of Education awarded 56 grants totaling $27 million to school districts and community organizations who plan to implement comprehensive physical fitness and nutrition programs for their students.

The school district will use the funds to purchase fitness equipment to be used at both the middle and high school as well as hire staff to provide additional support and supervision to students during after school health and fitness activities.