There are 28 acres of land at Peachtree Charter Middle School (PCMS). Much of the land is underutilized, and the track and playing fields are in need of repair. There’s a lack of park space in the city of Dunwoody. Put the two together and it provides an opportunity for the city to partner with the DeKalb County School Board in a joint use agreement to improve and develop the land and facilities at PCMS in exchange for use of the land for park activities.

Jefferson County is Oregon’s most ethnically diverse County. It is also the only community in Central Oregon that does not have a Parks and Recreation District. Kids@Heart partners in Jefferson County are working with the school district and city to promote joint use and use it as a means to help schools become stronger community focal-points. Read more by clicking here.

In this Huffington post article James R. Knickmen, President and CEO of New York State Health Foundations, lists joint use as one of eight key strategies to positively influence the food and activity environment.

Below is an excerpt from the 21CSF newsletter Issue 57 November/December 2010.  To subscribe to their newsletter email: newsletter@21csf.org

The 21^st Century School Fund examined each U.S. State’s capital outlay from 2005-2008 for elementary and secondary public education facility construction and modernization. 21CSF also surveyed and conducted telephone interviews with every U.S. State on the role that the state plays in school facility capital project planning and management. “It is clear from this study that only about half of all states have a partnership with local districts to share in the responsibility for providing adequate school facilities.”

In addition the 21^st Century School Fund has sought to identify all of the federal programs that can be used for PK-12 school facilities modernization and construction. The report analyzes federal spending for PK-12 school facilities through dedicated and allowable federal grants and dedicated and allowable federal tax credits and loans. “For every one thousand dollars that states and local school districts spend on public school buildings improvements paid for through capital outlay, the federal government contributes about 86 cents.”

The California Court of Appeal has ruled that public schools must provide physical education to comply with state law. The court ruling overturned the decision of the Sacramento trial court that ruled the law set goals but not legally enforceable requirements, and that private parties like parents do not have the right to enforce the law. In response to an organizing campaign by The City Project and its diverse allies including the Prevention Institute, the Los Angeles Unified School District has voluntarily adopted a similar resolution to help promote academic performance and youth development and reduce obesity and diabetes.