School recess bill didn’t get a hearing

by David Safier

From Steve Gall:

Unfortunately, HB2408 elementary school recess did not even get a hearing in front of the House Education Committee.  Chairman Rich Crandall, Republican from Mesa, told Rep. Frank Antenori who introduced the bill that he did not have the votes.  Several of the Committee members, both Democrats and Republicans, sit on school boards and they put their local control philosophy ahead of the health and wellbeing of the children.  Antenori worked very hard with me on this mandate in a nonpartisan fashion but the Committee members would not budge.  I even compromised on the bill by allowing after or before lunch recess to count as part of the daily 30 minutes requirement but to no avail.  However, I am on the agenda for the April meeting of the TUSD Governing Board and hope to convince them that this mandate is vital for the health of the students.