School board lauds chief Golden.

Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield School District board gave Superintendent Nancy Golden a stellar evaluation at its Monday night meeting and adopted a new policy designed to help students stay physically fit.

Commenting on Golden's third year at the helm, board Chairwoman Laurie Adams praised her dedication to the needs of students and asked the board members to stand on either side of Golden as she read a letter of support.

"More than ever before we have worked as a team," she said.

Golden was recognized for setting high standards, helping teachers and staff work well together and improving community awareness of the district's strengths.

"We are experiencing the Golden years and we give you an A plus," Adams said.

The board also unanimously adopted a wellness policy in response to a federal requirement that districts develop such policies this year.

Springfield's 24-member wellness committee, made up of district employees and community members, set policy goals that include providing a variety of affordable, nutritious and appealing foods to students; nutrition education for families; and more opportunities for children to be physically active.

While the school board was mostly supportive of the policy, Adams blasted some existing school programs that she said teach trivial physical activities such as badminton, when girls could use something with long-term benefits, such as self-defense.

She also pointed out the need for psychological assistance for some obese students, beyond nutrition and exercise education.

The new policy doesn't specifically ban sales of soft drinks and some candy in the schools, as the Eugene School District recently chose to do.

But Deputy Superintendent Steve Barrett said the wellness committee will look at the issue as it implements the policy.

"We're a learning organization, and to ban it wouldn't be a learning approach," he said.

"Kids need to be taught about nutrition."