Morgan County R-II school District in Versailles received a 350 thousand dollar grant in August through the Missouri Foundation for Health. School administrators are working on an action plan for the community to include different activities centered on childhood obesity. The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities grant will fund these activities as well as the salary for the Health and Wellness coordinator of the district.
Morgan County Assistant Superintendent Jim Rich said, “In setting up the action plan with those particular parties we hope to make and change the culture where all of our students are eating healthy and exhibiting healthy activities in their life.”
According to Program officer at Missouri Foundation for Health Deidre Griffiths, the foundation works with communities and district wellness coordinators to implement changes such as replacing deep fryers with salad bars.
The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities grant began in 2013 and goes to 33 school districts. Griffiths said the need is great in these communities. She said more than half of the students in the targeted schools receive a free or reduced lunch.