For more information:
Melissa Reeves, mdreeves@jeffco.k12.co.us, Jeffco Public Schools, 303-982-6567
Lynn Setzer, lsetzer@jeffco.k12.co.us, Jeffco Public Schools, 303-982-6810

ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO WALK AND BIKE TO SCHOOL
A $4,500 grant to Normandy Elementary School from the Colorado Department of Transportation's Colorado Safe Routes to School program will be put to good use to create safe walking and biking routes for students. 

Normandy titled their program The Kiss and Go Lane Safety Campaign, which will help the school add a second traffic coordinator, signs and speed bumps, have parents sign a safety contract and participate in programs that encourage walking and biking safely to school. 

According to a recent survey, less than 16 percent of students age five to 15 walk or bike to school and childhood obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years. 

The Colorado Safe Routes to School program received over $8 million in funds for fiscal years 2005 to 2009 from the National Safe Routes to School Program. Schools and communities across Colorado are eligible to apply for a portion of these funds to help promote walking and biking and to build safer routes to and from school.

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