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W.Va. Senate Wants 30 Minutes Of School Exercise A Day
By: Associated Press
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The West Virginia Senate wants to require students to be physically active for at least 30 minutes each school day.
Senate Majority Leader John Unger is carrying a bill that would require a half-hour of moderate physical activity daily amid classes. The bill suggests ideas like walking, jumping rope, playing soccer, lifting weights, or daily activities like taking the stairs or doing yard work.
West Virginia has some of the highest rates of health problems from obesity. Medicaid costs caring for obese children in West Virginia cost $198.1 million in 2013.
The proposal cleared one Senate committee Thursday, though some lawmakers questioned how teachers could find the extra time.
State Board of Education President Gayle Manchin told a panel of senators Friday that the program wouldn't affect existing classes.