Kershaw district recognized as FitnessGram influencer; DPH highlights student fitness data
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Summary
State Department of Public Health officials praised Kershaw County School District as a FitnessGram influencer district and credited the district’s open community use policy and partnerships for improving access to physical activity.
Kershaw County School District was honored April 8 as a South Carolina FitnessGram influencer district, and Department of Public Health officials highlighted statewide student fitness data that helped shape local policy.
At the school board meeting Elizabeth (district nurse lead) and Erica (Department of Public Health) described a multi-year partnership that helped the district collect student cardio-respiratory fitness data and use that information to expand access to safe places to play.
"Over half of our students in our state have poor heart and lung health," said Erica, a DPH representative who presented the FitnessGram program to the board. Erica and district staff said Kershaw worked with community health partners on data walks that compared student FitnessGram outcomes with local health data and identified "play deserts" in parts of the county.
District staff credited board support for adopting an open community use policy that places signs at elementary school playgrounds to signal public access when the facilities are not in use for school activities. Officials said the district also has partnered with community groups to expand trails near several schools.
Elizabeth, who the presenters identified as the district’s nurse lead and FitnessGram contact, was praised by DPH staff for coordinating PE teachers, school nurses and community partners to use the data to drive improvements. DPH noted that Kershaw Middle School Beta Club service hours and other local efforts were part of the district————community engagement referenced during the presentation.
DPH presented the district with a token of appreciation for serving as an influencer district since 2021. Officials said the district’s work will be shared at state and national forums as a model for other districts seeking to use student fitness data to inform policy and programming.
Board members and officials encouraged continued collaboration between PE teachers, school nurses and community health partners.
The recognition followed earlier student and coach awards presented at the start of the meeting.
