Decorah families start Walking School Bus

In an effort to get their children up and moving to school each day, a group of Decorah parents is starting the first "Walking School Bus" in the region.

The premise is this: A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults.

Organizers said the idea may sound simple, but that is part of the appeal.

Britt and Mark Rhodes of Decorah have been recruiting and planning the walking school bus from their Decorah "Flats" neighborhood to John Cline Elementary. A kick-off and information meeting was held in July to get the program off the ground.

From the approximate 24 families residing on the Flats, project promoters already have a committed group of seven families who want to walk their children to school.

Parents, along with two "conductors" (trained volunteer supervisors) will be escorting the kids to school each morning. Along the scheduled route, school children can be picked up at designed "bus stops."

The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI) gave Britt Rhodes the technical assistance she needed to start the "Walking School Bus" program.

The goal of FFI is promoting healthy choices through local, healthy food and active, physical living. FFI has provided funds to the group to buy badges for the kids to wear and maybe some T-shirts. They also will have a first-aid kit available for the bus supervisors and are re-using old political signs to indicate the stops along the route.

Promoting a healthy and safe community is just one of the group's goals. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership cited that in 1969 approximately 50 percent of children walked or biked to school and about 87 percent of those children living within one mile of school did. The study showed that today, fewer than 15 percent of school children walk or bike to school, and as a result, youngsters become less active, less independent and less healthy.

Decorah's "Walking School Bus" promoters said study after study shows physically active children perform better academically, and classroom teachers consistently report children perform better when they have some physical exercise in their day.

The "walking to school" promotion also was found to reduce automobile traffic near schools at pick-up and drop-off times, increasing pedestrian safety and reducing air pollution.

Rhodes asked that interested families contact her at 563-387-3756 for more information or to join the project.

The group rehearsed their first walk to school practice day Monday morning, Aug. 16. They enjoyed time together on the playground and at breakfast.

The first official start day for the project is Monday, Aug. 23.

Heidi Skildum is the FFI coordinator working with schools in this region.

Source: Roz Weis, www.decorahnewspapers.com, 8/19/10