Fitness class for school staff closing as grant runs out
As the end of the school year nears, so does a program that has helped parents and staff stay fit in Madera’s schools for three years.
Twice a week for an hour, mostly women gathered in the cafeteria of Jack G. Desmond Middle School to sweat off the pounds doing Zumba, a workout that combines dance and aerobic movements. The sessions were sponsored by a California Healthy Kids grant, which has run out and is not renewable, said Becky Valdivia, a counselor at Desmond.
The $5,000 grant also funded Zumba at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, as well as Alpha, Nishimoto and Millview elementary schools. Its aim was to help educators, staff and parents be healthy. Funding was also used to buy fresh fruit for teachers on Thursday mornings.
“I feel that the staff that’s been involved in it has really enjoyed it,” said Valdivia...