[Press Release] : Columbia’s Walking School Bus becomes model program for New York state

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2007


CONTACT: Ian Thomas
Executive Director
PedNet Coalition
(573) 445-2928
ian at pednet.org 
or
Margy Tonnies
Walking School Bus Coordinator
PedNet Coalition
(573) 864-2556
matonnies at hotmail.com 


Columbia’s Walking School Bus becomes model program for New York
state
									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - Columbia’s Walking School Bus (WSB) program
is a model which health and physical activity promoters in the state of
New York are looking to replicate. Health promoters learned about
Columbia’s program at the national Active Living by Design (ALbD)
meeting in Denver last May.
	PedNet Coalition staff members Margy Tonnies and Ian Thomas will
travel to Albany, N.Y, next week to deliver a two-day training on how to
coordinate a WSB program. The training will be attended by over 30
health promoters from around the state of New York who wish to start WSB
programs in their own communities.
	In Columbia, the spring WSB program will kick off March 19 at
Grant, Russell, Ridgeway, West Boulevard, Fairview and Lee Elementary
schools. If your child is interested in participating, registration
forms and information will be available at parent/teacher conference
night on March 1, from school offices, or by calling Margy Tonnies at
(573) 864-2556.
	Walking to school is an easy way for children (and adults) to
get the 30-60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the
risk of chronic disease. Other benefits include reduced traffic
congestion and air pollution around schools, increased community
connections and improved focus for children in the classroom.  
	Columbia’s WSB program was developed as part of the Active
Living by Design project which is a partnership led by the PedNet
Coalition, the city of Columbia and  Columbia Public Schools.

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