School rules advocate safety and health

County school officials are trying to instill safe and healthy behavior in students by adopting two new policies, one aimed at seat belt use and one aimed at nutrition.

The Orange County Board of Education approved the first readings of the policies at its Monday meeting.

The safety-belt policy - an extension of the Governor's Highway Safety Program, - will require student drivers with on-campus parking permits and their passengers to be buckled while on campus.

School resource officers will perform random checks at least twice a year, penalizing those who violate the rule.

A student's first violation will result in a written warning. Subsequent violations will warrant a loss of parking privileges for up to 20 days. If the rule is violated a fifth time, a student's parking privilege will be revoked for the remainder of the school year.

"It's a way for the school district to make sure students have on their seat belts when they come on campus," said Randy Copeland, chairman of the school board. "Maybe we can save one life or save some serious injury by having students buckled up."

Because the policy is aimed primarily at protecting students, Copeland said school faculty and staff members will not be penalized for not wearing a seat belt, but they are encouraged to adhere to the policy.

The policy will be implemented officially within the schools as soon as the second reading is approved. The school board is slated to review the second reading in October.

"I expect the second reading to pass," Copeland said. "This one is a slam dunk."

If it passes the second reading, the policy will be implemented after the paperwork is finalized, Copeland said.

The Governor's Highway Safety Program provided grants for parking lot signs and educational materials for students and their families, so the new policy will come at no extra cost to the schools, he said.

Copeland has high hopes for the safety policy, but understands it is a process.

"Wearing a seat belt is a habit, it's a learning habit," he said. "Hopefully we can instill in these young people a lifelong habit of wearing a seat belt."

At Monday's meeting, the board also approved the first reading of a physical activity and healthy eating policy, but changes are likely before the proposal is submitted for a second reading.

As an extension of the No Child Left Behind Act, the policy is designed to enforce healthy eating and exercise habits among students. The proposal includes healthier food options in the cafeterias, additional physical education time and nutrition education.

The school board requested that there be further clarification about how the nutritional guidelines will be implemented in the schools.

Donna Williams, the district's director of healthful living, athletics and driver education,is concerned that changing available food options would cause the schools to lose money.

Replacing sporting-event snack foods with healthier alternatives might cause customers to bring their own snacks and would ultimately turn away possible revenue for school booster clubs.

"If it went far enough, the days of hot dogs and hamburgers at ball games would go away," Copeland said.

The policy may still be amended before its second reading, but Williams wants it to happen.

"I hope it will get passed," Williams said. "We didn't receive that many rejections (on first reading.)"

 

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.