The Haywood County School District was the recipient of a Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant worth up to nearly $1 million.

Haywood County Schools was one of only 76 successful applications selected from a pool of 585 nationwide, and the only school district awarded in North Carolina. Funding for the first year is $375,101.

The grant will fund Mountain ROADS (Reducing Obesity via Activity and Diet for Students). The “Mountain ROADS” program will be used to improve curriculum, instruction, nutrition, and activity choices for students. The program introduces a variety of team and individual activities as well as some non-traditional physical activities. The program also offers physical education and health staff opportunities to learn new strategies to help students become more physically active and healthy.