Bill Text: HI HCR260 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: School Gardens, DOE; Task Force

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-21 - (H) Referred to EDN, AGR/HLT, FIN, referral sheet 43 [HCR260 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HCR260-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	260
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the Department of Education to convene a task force to determine how best to expand and strengthen the use of school gardens statewide.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, many children in Hawaii have limited exposure to the wide range of healthy, local foods that are available and lack understanding as to where their food comes from or how it is prepared; and

 

     WHEREAS, school gardens provide students with unique, real-world opportunities to learn about topics ranging from nutrition and health to agriculture, ecology, environmental stability, and economics; and

 

     WHEREAS, school gardens provide students with improved meal options by giving schools access to fresh local produce; and

 

     WHEREAS, farm to school programs, such and planting and tending school gardens, have proven successful in supplying high quality food, as well as providing students with knowledge that enhances their educational experience and cultivates long-term healthy habits; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to convene a task force to determine how best to expand and strengthen the use of school gardens statewide; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives from the:

 

     (1)  Department of Education;

 

     (2)  Department of Health;

 

     (3)  Department of Agriculture;

 

     (4)  University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources;

 

     (5)  University of Hawaii at Hilo;

 

     (6)  Maui Community College;

 

     (7)  Hawaii Island School Garden Network;

 

     (8)  Kokua Hawaii Foundation;

 

     (9)  Hawaii Association of Independent Schools;

 

    (10)  Kauai School Garden Network; and

 

    (11)  Ulupono Initiative; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to develop a statewide curriculum strategy and professional development program for using school gardens to:

 

     (1)  Teach science, math, environmental, and nutritional studies;

 

     (2)  Improve ecoliteracy within the community; and

 

     (3)  Increase the physical activity and healthy habits of students; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to collect comprehensive data from the school gardens on each island; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to report to the Legislature its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education; the Director of Health; the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; the Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo; the Vice President for Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System; the Program Director of the Hawaii Island School Garden Network; the Executive Director of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation; the Executive Director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools; the School Garden Coordinator of the Kauai School Garden Network; and the General Partner of the Ulupono Initiative.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

School Gardens, DOE; Task Force