Henry Co. school board votes 3-2 to ban tobacco; farmers split

Wikipedia map: Henry County

The use of tobacco is banned on school property in Henry County, following a 3-2 vote by the school board Dec. 21.

Some board members are or have been tobacco growers, including Tony Whaley, who voted no. “Having been a tobacco producer for a number of years, it tugs at you both ways,” he said. “You think about what it’s meant to this county, and I think about what it’s meant to me. I raised a crop all through college and it put me through college without having to get a student loan.”

"But what really caused concern for Whaley was the issue of enforcement, especially at outdoor events like baseball and football," Melissa Blankenship reports for the Henry County Local. "Supt. Tim Abrams said enforcement would be 'passive,' through signage and announcements at events where tobacco use might be more prevalent. He does not foresee asking school personnel to act as the 'tobacco police,' which is why board Chairperson Miranda Clubb chose to vote against the measure as well."

“I’m not condoning smoking at all. I just think our purpose is to educate children, not to tell their families when and where they can or cannot smoke,” Clubb said. “I believe the current policy of not allowing smoking in buildings was enough.” Members Donnie Tipton, Harold Bratton and Danney Chisholm voted for the ban. Tipton is a tobacco farmer.

"The new policy prohibits all tobacco products, nicotine products and vapor products in any building and on any property owned and operated by the Henry County Board of Education and applies to indoor and outdoor facilities, inside board-owned vehicles, athletic fields and during school-sponsored trips and activities," Blankenship reports. "The policy has always applied to students but will now also apply to all district employees, parents and any visitors to the district."

Abrams estimated that about 20 of the district's 300 employees are tobacco users. They will get an opportunity to participate in smoking-cessation classes.

He said having tobacco-free campuses sends a consistent message to students about tobacco use. “I think everybody agrees we need to do everything we can to keep young people from picking up that terrible habit. I don’t think any parent wants their child to start smoking, and as a school we should do what we can to prevent it,” he said. “We teach our kids about the dangers of smoking in the classroom, now we can carry that message outside of the classroom, to all our buildings and all our events.”

Henderson County jumps into the fight against childhood obesity, a major problem in Kentucky

Henderson County is investing in a holistic program to battle childhood obesity, a huge problem in Kentucky, Erin Schmitt reports for the Henderson Gleaner.

Childhood obesity is at 18 percent in Kentucky—one of the highest rates in the country—and 35.7 percent of Kentucky children ages 10 to 17 are overweight or obese, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Nationally, rural children are more likely to be obese than those in cities and suburbs.

Local organizers hope to improve these statistics by implementing the research-based Coordinated Approach to Child Health, or CATCH, to school-aged kids, Schmitt writes.  CATCH has been proven to produce lasting results through the promotion of physical activity and healthy food choices.  This is accomplished by using a four-pronged approach that  includes involving the school cafeterias, home, the curriculum and after school activities.

“Henderson County has the potential to lead the state,” Chase Fulcher of the Community Foundation of Henderson told Schmitt. “We’ve got the potential to be the first school system and county in Kentucky to adopt this program.” Subway franchise owner Jeff Troxel, a partner of CATCH, approached Fulcher about investing in the program, Schmitt reports, and soon after the foundation agreed to donate $20,000 and lead the cause.

Fulcher has since secured a $10,000 to $20,000 commitment from Methodist Hospital, private donations of $20,000, and $5,000 from the Henderson County Board of Education, and is looking for state and federal grants, Schmitt writes. The money, along with involvement by local staffs, is expected to sustain the program.

A CATCH trainer is scheduled to begin training the local school principals about the program March 12, Schmitt reports. After this training, the program will move into the schools.

LaRue County High School collaborates with university and nursing home to offer nurse-aide training course

Fifteen students at LaRue County High School have signed up for a new nurse's aide class offered in coordination with Campbellsville University and a local nursing home through which students will earn a nurse certification. The class is being subsidized by the county school district.

The school board agreed on June 17 to pay $300 per student.  Although students accepted into the program will be expected to cover the remaining $200 of the course fee, grants are available to help them, and upon completion of the course, students will receive a certificate stating that they have completed some medical training, says Denise Skaggs, instructional supervisor for the school system.

"The course is titled as an SRNA (State Registered Nurse Aide) program; where students will learn skills involving senior personal care, mobility assistance, checking vitals (i.e. heart rate, blood pressure etc.) and minor medical equipment use and care," says Rebecca Roscoe of the LaRue County Herald-News.

Classes will be coordinated by Campbellsville University and held at the Brockman Center in Hodgenville and at the Sunrise Manor nursing home, where the course's required 16 clinical hours will take place, reports Roscoe. The hands-on clinical experience will be a great benefit, Skaggs said.

The idea for the course came from a survey in which 45 students expressed interest in a nursing program due to their interest in pursuing a medical career, Roscoe reports. Administrators talked to Taylor County school officials, who have implemented a similar program, to gain insight about launching their own program.  Thirty students applied and 15 students have been accepted by a review committee.

“I’m glad to see us offer something specific for our students that will help them achieve success in their future career,” Skaggs told Roscoe. “I think the program is a great addition because it speaks to our community … and now that we know the services that are available for us we want to take advantage of programs offered to benefit and increase our students success.” The program serves as a model for other public high schools to do the same.