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IAPO Leadership Council

 

Action Alert: Help restore P.E. in Chicago schools! 

Urgent: Take action today!  Thank the CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for taking a fresh look at CPS' course of action regarding P.E. in schools.

 

 

WHAT: Healthy Schools Campaign, American Heart Association, and Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity urges individuals and organizations concerned about increasing physical activity among youth, improving public health, or preventing obesity to send letters to Jean-Claude Brizard, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, to thank him for taking a fresh look at CPS' course of action regarding physical education (P.E.) in schools and encourage him not to submit a request for a renewal of P.E. waivers to the Illinois State Board of Education.

 

WHEN: Send your letter today! All letters should be sent no later than October 21, 2011.

 

WHY: Jean-Claude Brizard, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, will be making a determination on whether to seek an extension of the district's P.E. waiver from the state. Waiver renewal requests have been routine for CPS for many years and we are very encouraged that this policy is being reconsidered by the new CPS leadership team. An application to renew P.E. waivers would be an unfortunate step backward for a school district that has recently made tremendous strides in improving student health and wellness.

 

HOW:

 

There are two ways to let your voice be heard: (1) submit a letter using an Internet interface that will fax your letter directly to the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, or (2) by sending your own customized letter via U.S. Mail. Choose the option that makes the most sense for you!

Option #1 - Send a letter over the Internet

  1. Click here to visit the Health Schools Campaign's website.
  2. Customize your letter and press the submit button.
  3. If you know people who may be interested in this work, please click the yellow "Forward this email to a friend" button at the bottom of this page.

 Option #2 - Send a letter by U.S. mail

(This option can take more time, but is usually more effective.)

  1. Click here to review a sample letter.
     
  2. Edit the sample letter as appropriate, or write your own letter. If you represent an organization, print it on organizational letterhead.   
     
  3. Send the letter to all of the parties listed in the sample letter.
     
  4. If you know people who may be interested in this work, please click the yellow "Forward this email to a friend" button at the bottom of this page.
     
  5.  Also, please send a copy of your letter to:

Mark E. Peysakhovich

Sr. Dir. of Gov't Relation

American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliat

208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1500

Chicago, IL 60604

FAX: (312) 346-7375

mep@heart.org

 

(We would like to have a packet with as many letters as possible for any future meetings with CPS and/or Mayor Emanuel's office.)
  

For additional information, contact:
 

Mark Bishop

Vice President of Policy and Communications

Healthy Schools Campaign

175 N. Franklin, Suite 300

Chicago, IL 60606

(312) 419-1810

mark@healthyschoolscampaign.org

 

       - OR -

 

Mark E. Peysakhovich

Sr. Dir. of Gov't Relations

American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate

208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1500

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 476-6644

mep@heart.org
About IAPO

The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO) seeks to reverse the dangerous and costly trends associated with obesity in Illinois.
 
With input from stakeholders throughout Illinois, IAPO developed the State Obesity Action Roadmap, as well as IAPO's 3-Year Roadmap Goals to guide Illinois on a healthier path through changes in the way we work, play, learn, eat and live. One key Roadmap objective is to increase opportunities for safe and affordable physical activity in schools, with an explicit goal of eliminating P.E. waivers. IAPO's 3-Year Goals are intended to be bold solutions to Illinois' obesity epidemic - solutions that are on scale with the seriousness of the problem we face. 
 
This initiative was launched and is coordinated by the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI). 
 
To learn more about IAPO, visit www.preventobesityil.org. 

Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity

Convened by the Illinois Public Health Institute   

954 W. Washington Blvd., Ste. 405 MB 10,

Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 850-4744 voice

(312) 850-4040 fax