Structured recess bill fails, MUSD student fitness continues

Despite the failure of a bill designed to mandate 30 minutes of structured recess a day, fitness at MUSD will continue.

The bill, SB1417, was introduced by District 30’s Sen. Frank Antenori. It would have required all schools to have a 30-minute per day structured recess, meaning a curriculum-based recess led by a teacher.

“It is something not many schools are doing,” said MUSD Director of Curriculum Krista Roden. “It would have put some financial stress on us because we would have had to buy extra supplies to host the structured recess.”

Currently, K-5 students at MUSD have a 20-minute recess after lunch, but the activity is not structured.

The students also participate in physical education twice a week. In the classroom teachers utilize jamming in the curriculum. Jamming is essentially having the children standing up and doing small brain and body exercises throughout the course of the day.

The aim of the bill was to target the growing obesity levels among America’s youth, but the bill could not get a hearing in the legislature this session.

“I think structured recess could help with the issue, but making students more aware of their dietary choices and incorporating fitness into the standard school day can be just as effective,” Roden said.

Antenori did not return multiple e-mails asking for comment.

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