NYSUT rolls out statewide health lifestyle program for kids

MEDIA RELEASE

ALBANY, N.Y. March 8, 2005 - New York State United Teachers will roll out a new program developed to help combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic at a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. in Mrs. Stinson's 1st grade classroom at School 14, 1700 Tibbits Avenue, Troy (corner of Orchard and Tibbits).

NYSUT Vice President Richard Iannuzzi will introduce a new pilot program to encourage schoolchildren to get off the couch, away from their video games and into healthy lifestyles. Mrs. Stinson's first graders are part of the pilot, which includes approximately 5000 elementary school students at schools across New York.

NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 500,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.