Schools across Idaho have been awarded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants so that they can provide healthy snack options throughout the day. A total of 113 schools were awarded the grant including 20 schools in 10 districts in North Idaho.

“The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is a voluntary program that many schools across Idaho have used not only to provide more nutritious options, but also as a creative way to teach Idaho students about history, geography, writing or other critical subjects,” said Tom Luna, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The program is part of a federal initiative by U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer schools a wider variety of produce. Schools are reimbursed for providing fresh produce to all students during the school day, but it has to be at a time outside of the normal lunch hour.

Parents of Athol Elementary students are picketing after the school principal announced changes to the school cross country program.

Colene Hotmer started the district elementary cross country program back in 2008 in a effort to strengthen the program at the higher levels.

“It was great because I was able to get the community involved” Hotmer said.

The team has seen many changes since it hosted the first invitational race of 300 runners. Hotmer stated that after the program doubled in students the second year Principal Kathy Thomas asked the P.E. teacher to lead the practices in order for there to be a staff presence. Hotmer took back over the third year and last year Thomas had Hotmer move the program the Rathdrum Parks and Recreation because of the growth.

In line with an overall decrease in enrollment from fall semester, North Idaho College’s spring enrollment is down similarly. The total headcount for students in spring 2013 is 6,072 students, which is down 5.45 percent from last spring’s 6,422.

“Our decrease in enrollment overall is not unexpected and, in fact, mirrors much of what is happening in higher education regionally and nationally,” said NIC Vice President for Student Services Graydon Stanley. “As the economy improves, prospective or current students have more opportunity for employment and don’t stay or enter into the higher education system. And there is natural attrition that happens from fall to spring semester each year.”  

In addition, NIC is now using a new method of reporting enrollment, which was dictated by the state so all enrollment numbers would be comparable among higher education institutions in Idaho. NIC now reports enrollment numbers more than two months later than it has in previous years.