Shaler Area School District is taking action to make known its opposition to the proposed changes to physical education requirements outlined by the state Board of Education.
The board passed a formal resolution opposing the new Chapter 12 regulations last week, amending student nutrition and physical activity and education within the school. The vote passed unanimously, 8-0, with school board member John Watral absent.
Under the proposed revisions, districts will be required to provide 30 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity and encourage students to get an additional 30 minutes of activity after school hours. The time spent in extracurricular athletics or physical activity does not count toward the district's required 30 minutes.
The mandates would require 150 minutes of physical education per week at the elementary school level and 225 minutes per week at the middle and secondary school levels. Elementary and middle schools must provide at least 20 minutes per day of scheduled recess. High schools are encouraged to offer at least a 20-minute break for physical activity.
Wesley Shipley, assistant superintendent at Shaler Area, said the district's biggest concern is the number of required hours.
"With 200 (required) minutes, we're looking at hiring new teachers and building new facilities to meet the requirements," Shipley said. "How are we going to get in math and reading and the other important subjects we're trying to cover?"
Shipley said if the hours required were lowered, it would be more manageable. Currently at Shaler Area, students at the primary level have physical education class at least once during a five-day cycle and health incorporated into the school curriculum. They also have recess daily. Students at the upper elementary level, grades four to six, have four days of physical education and up to two days of recess.
Students in the middle school have physical education year-long for four periods during a six-day cycle " about 180 minutes every six days.
At the high school, physical education is a semester-long course, or half a year.
Catherine Davidson, a school board member, said there was some concern from the community about what the board's opposition to the proposed changes meant, but she stressed "we're not opposed to physical education."
Superintendent Donald Lee agreed, explaining that the district only was opposed to the state's specific mandates in the proposal.
The regulations also outline requirements for schools to have health advisory committees, monitor all food made available to students at the school and rules for reporting and compliance. The proposed Chapter 12 regulations are in the first phase of the state review process and are undergoing formal consideration.
