Board approves American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge for participating Columbus County schools

The Columbus County Board of Education approved an agreement with the American Heart Association on Sept. 22 to bring the Kids Heart Challenge program to participating district schools.

Michelle Fisher, a regional school‑program representative for the American Heart Association, described the program’s educational and service‑learning goals and asked trustees to encourage principals to participate. "These skills that children are learning through Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are helping save lives," Fisher said during her presentation, citing classroom activities on heart health, stroke recognition and hands‑only CPR outreach videos for students and families.

Fisher said the program is aligned with North Carolina physical‑education and health standards and typically runs as a 2‑to‑4‑week unit embedded in PE or health instruction; it is supplemental and does not provide formal CPR certification. She noted the program supports family engagement through an at‑home component and that the American Heart Association can offer grants (up to $2,500) to participating schools that apply.

During her presentation Fisher identified five Columbus County schools that had already committed to participation: West Columbus School, Hallsboro Artesia, Tabor City School, Old Dock and Nakana Middle School. The district’s superintendent recommended approval, the board moved to accept the agreement, and the motion passed by voice vote.

Board members asked operational clarifying questions about program logistics, parental permissions, whether PE teachers would implement the materials and how the at‑home components work. Fisher confirmed that the program includes educational videos and materials but is not a hands‑on CPR certification class; she said eighth graders in the district still receive hands‑on CPR instruction as part of regular curriculum requirements.

Superintendent Beck and staff will work with principals who choose to participate to schedule program delivery and to distribute grant‑application information.