Originally published June 18, 2018 in The Advocate.
By Will Sentell
East Baton Rouge public schools will be among the targeted recipients for a $350,000 annual federal grant to improve student nutrition, physical activity and how to manage chronic health problems, state officials announced Monday afternoon.
EBR schools are among six districts statewide that will be prioritized by the state Department of Education and the state Department of Health.
They will be targeted because of a statewide evaluation of school environments and parish-wide health data, according to a statement announcing the assistance.
The state is set to get the initial $350,000 on June 30.
Each school system will then get between $8,000 and $10,000 annually for five years.
Aside from EBR schools others highlighted will be the Lafayette, St. Landry, Tangipahoa, Calcasieu and Monroe school districts.
The two state agencies will work with school systems to develop health advisory councils, online self-assessments and the use of technology to increase communication of information to school administrators, staff, parents, students and community members.