Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Rick Patrick, October 4, 2016
The Madison County School District was awarded the bronze Florida Healthy School District flag from the Coordinated School Health Partnership. Pictured, from left to right, are Carol Vickers from the Fl. Coordinated School Health Partnership; Madison County School Board Chair VeEtta Hagan; Madison County Superintendent of Schools Doug Brown; and Victoria Hunter Gibney, from the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Services extension family nutrition program. In the back are George Reeves (left) and Karen Pickles (right).
Rick Patrick
Greene Publishing, Inc.
At the Tuesday, Oct. 4 in a meeting of the Madison County School Board, the school district was awarded the bronze level Florida Healthy School District flag by members of the Coordinated School Health Partnership (CSHP) and the Executive Committee of Florida Action for Healthy Kids.
The CSHP is a grassroots partnership whose members represent various not-for-profits such as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Florida YMCA, Florida Action for Healthy Kids, and The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Also included in the CSHP are professional associations of hospitals, dentists, pediatricians, family practitioners, optometrists, school nurses, health educators, physical educators, insurers, the Florida PTA and other advocates. The primary purpose of the CSHP is to inform advocacy for school health issues and recognize excellence among Florida school districts.
As a representative of the CSHP, Carol Vickers told the board, “[We] applaud your district for establishing a culture and climate in which students and staff can reach their personal potential and continuing to serve as a leader in the state in reducing and eliminating the barriers to learning, resulting in increased academic achievement.”
The Madison County School District was recognized for demonstrating high scores related to policies and processes in the following areas:
District infrastructure demonstrating strong administrative and community support that leads to sustainability of health practices and policies.
Health education that provides the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about all areas of health.
Health services that remove health related barriers to attendance, performance, and academic success.
“We especially commend you for maintaining your status as a healthy school district, despite staffing changes and the end of grants that have supported your efforts in the past,” said Vickers. “Thank you for remaining at the forefront of ensuring the future of a healthy Florida by creating health literate and health practicing students and staff that are fit, healthy, and ready to learn.”