MCALESTER, KREBS PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE TSET HEALTHY INCENTIVE GRANTS

MCALESTER, Okla. (October 7, 2019) – The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) recognized Krebs Public Schools and McAlester Public Schools on Monday for their efforts to encourage healthy behaviors in students, faculty and staff.

Krebs Public Schools received a $15,000 incentive grant and is installing a walking track for students, staff and community use. McAlester Public Schools used their $30,000 grant as matching funds for a new KaBOOM! playground at Parker Intermediate Center. The district is also using funds for employee wellness initiatives, a school garden and Let’s Play curriculum & materials.

“These grants recognize the effort of schools that are actively promoting healthy lifestyles. Studies show that active, healthy kids perform better in school,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee “Habits formed early last a lifetime and we want to recognize schools that are making the healthy choice the easy choice for students, staff and the community.” 

Bisbee and Sharon Howard, TSET healthy incentive program manager for schools, presented a plaque and a check to officials with Krebs Public Schools and McAlester Public Schools. Representatives from the Pittsburg County Health Department TSET Healthy Living Program were also present to congratulate the school districts for creating a healthy environment for students, staff and the community.

To receive the incentive grants, the districts put a variety of policies and strategies in place to promote health and wellness for students and staff.

The incentive grant criteria focus on strengthening policies and practices to improve school nutrition, increase physical activity, improve student wellbeing and provide tobacco-free environments for students, staff, faculty and families. These health-promoting practices and policies are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Incentive grants must fund projects or programs that improve health.

TSET was created by a constitutional amendment in 2000 as a long-term strategy to improve health and ensure settlement payments from a 1998 multi-state lawsuit against the tobacco industry are used to improve the health of all Oklahomans. The funds are placed in an endowment to ensure a growing funding source for generations to come. Only the earnings from the endowment are used to fund grants and programs.

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The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working towards shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public's health. TSET. Better Lives Through Better Health.