OAKLAND -- School Administrative District 47 board members tonight will vote on whether to allow a health survey of students at Messalonskee Middle School.

The meeting is slated for 7 p.m. at the Technology Building.

School Superintendent James C. Morse Sr. said the University of Maine is the group behind the survey.

Morse said district policy is to get board approval for any outside agency that wishes to get information from or about students.

Given the subject, Morse said he is in full support of the survey.

The district, he said, understands the importance of good health and, in fact, took time to address the subject at a recent administrative retreat.

Morse said he drew on the work of Paul Nussbaum and his book "Brain Health Lifestyle" at the retreat.

That book, Morse said, looks at brain health as having five components: physical activity, mental stimulation, spirituality, nutrition and socialization.

"There are strong connections between well being and ability to learn," Morse said.

"So we don't see it as an add-on but as integral to what we do."

The University of Maine survey is aimed at collecting information on nutrition, physical activity and weight control.

Also on the agenda is a vote on whether the district should move forward on a proposal to form a regional school unit with China.

That proposal is a much scaled-down version of an original plan that would have included Waterville, Winslow and Vassalboro in an eight-community regional school unit.

School Administrative District 47 towns are Oakland, Belgrade, Sidney and Rome.

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com