School district drops weight-loss contest

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky school district is dropping its plans for a weight-loss competition among its students.

The Appalachian News-Express (http://bit.ly/1qmRzbr ) reports that some schools in the Pike County School District sent permission slips home asking parents to allow their children to take part in the weight-loss competition sponsored by the district.

Pike County schools Superintendent David Lester tells the Pikeville newspaper that the district decided to cancel the competition and move forward with a different plan. The competition would have guaranteed prizes to the winners.

Lester says the competition was meant to promote healthier lifestyles among students. He says the plans changed after the district’s health coordinator decided to go in another direction with the competition.

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Information from: Appalachian News-Express, http://www.news-expressky.com

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