Arlington — If a school system is only taking care of a student between when a student arrives on a bus and when they leave, they are failing that child. At least, that’s the logic behind the 2015-16 Arlington School Board’s priorities.
At the Sept. 10 School Board meeting, the primary topic of the night was priorities for the upcoming year. A major focus of the School Board’s priorities was on the “whole child,” with a particular focus on developing policies during the school year that focuses on wellness and basic needs.
The basic needs focus included looking into policies to support food, housing, and health care for students outside of the classroom. This includes working with the County Board, non-profits, and local faith based communities.
“When we look at achievement, we want to ensure that we are looking at the total student,” said School Board Chair Emma Violand-Sanchez. “We want to see that the student is healthy, safe, supported, academically engaged and challenged. We want to align and integrate collaborative resources.”
The focus on wellness, particularly on providing better physical education and nutrition options for students, struck a chord with many parents in the audience.
“I am so proud to live in a county where my School Board wants to take on this priority,” said Mark Jones, a local parent. “I certainly hope a significant focus is an infusion of exercise into the school day. We all know it helps with physical health … it also helps kids emotionally … I think the most exciting thing is that physical exercise helps kids cognitively, and that translates into improved academic performance.”
“Movement is a key to optimal living,” said Dr. Joan Mountain Elliott, a physical therapist. “As a healthcare professional, an employee of the school system for 17 years, and the parent of two young adults who benefitted greatly from their education in Arlington public schools, I truly appreciate that the focus of this year’s strategic plan is on meeting the needs of the whole child. Incorporating physical activity within the curriculum is one cost effective and creative program providing a learning environment that is healthy and engaging to student’s needs.”
While other parents agreed with the focus, and acknowledged that it was ambitious enough in its aims, some also expressed disappointment about issues that weren’t addressed as priorities.
“Recess has been cut down a lot in elementary schools, and we need to increase exercise times,” said Michael Bier, whose son just started middle school. “[but] teacher morale was also a big issue last year. We need to be concerned about the whole teacher and the whole staff.”
Members of the School Board expressed united satisfaction at the proposed priority, and emphasized the importance of remaining focused on these goals.
“There’s a lot here,” said Abby Raphael, a School Board member. “It’s going to be a very busy year. We need to stay focused. It’s very tempting during the year, when a great idea comes up … we might want to add [it]. I ask us to look back and this and say ‘is it in our priorities’ and if it’s not, then to look at whether or not we have the capacity to add it.”