School Districts Receive Federal Grants for Phys. Ed.

Five Wisconsin school districts are receiving federal funds to improve their physical education programs.

Last year, The North Crawford school district in Soldiers Grove spent $1600 on physical education classes. The district recently learned it will receive a three year federal grant of more than $900,000.Judd Eastman is a physical education instructor in the district.He says the money will be used in part to introduce students to physical fitness that they can enjoy after high school. “These kids are going to get an opportunity to participate in mountain biking, biking trails, we’re going to try to build a fitness trail, cross country sking.”

Over the next three years, the Wautoma Area School district will receive more than $1 million. High school physical fitness teacher Christine Sluke says the money will be used to pay for several programs including encouraging kids to eat healthy.”With some of our students, we have a high poverty rate in our county, so we’re trying to reach kids who don’t have access to healthy and nutritious food. We’re going to be working to educate parents more about nutrition.”

The school districts of Chequamegon, Milwaukee and Mischicot also received physical fitness grants. The money comes from the US Department of Education. School districts must pay a 22 percent match to receive the grants.