School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
School Health Advisory Council
The Board of Trustees of the Van Alstyne Independent School District authorizes the establishment of the Van Alstyne Independent School District School Health Advisory Council. The purpose of the School Health Advisory Council is to ensure that local community values are reflected in the District's health education instruction as well as offering recommendations to the Board of Trustees in the areas of health education curriculum.
For a breakdown of the SHAC bylaws, as well as a list of the SHAC duties specified in the Texas Education Code 28.004, see the documents provided below:
2024-2025 School Health Advisory Council Annual Report
Van Alstyne ISD
School Health Advisory Council
2024/2025 Annual Report
Background
A School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is a group appointed by the school district to serve at the district level. Members of the SHAC come from different areas of the community and from within the school district. Most members must be parents who are not employed by the district. Texas law {Texas Education Code, Title 2, subtitle F, Chapter 28. Subchapter A, 28.004} requires the establishment of a SHAC for every school district. The SHAC is required to meet at least four times each year.
The SHAC assists the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in health education instruction. Additionally, the SHAC plays an important role in strengthening the connection between health and learning. The group can help parents and community stakeholders reinforce the knowledge and skills children need to stay healthy for a lifetime.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has developed a guide titled- School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts. This document provided school staff and members of the community basic information about the value of the SHAC to create a healthy school environment for students. The Van Alstyne ISD SHAC utilizes this document to help reach district goals.
SHAC ORGANIZATION
Van Alstyne ISD has designated the District Nurse to coordinate the district SHAC. District Nurse, Norma Thomas, RN, works closely with multiple members of the school district to ensure that SHAC is meeting the standards as set forth in legal requirements and compliant with all SHAC related policies and mandates.
Nurse Thomas, RN schedules SHAC meetings, creates agendas, assists SHAC leadership, and ensures that all necessary information is posted to the SHAC webpage in a timely manner.
SHAC leadership consists of the five appointed officers including Chair, Co-Chair, and Secretary. During meetings or events, the District Nurse serves in consultative roles to ensure that meetings and events are fulfilling the needs of the district and are policy compliant. The Director of Child Nutrition and District Medical Director also assist SHAC leadership as needed.
2024/2025 SHAC Membership
There has been a renewed interest in the 2024/2025 SHAC term. The final composition of SHAC membership did not comply with district policy (legal) which states: The board shall appoint at least five members to the SHAC. Most members must be persons who are parents of students enrolled the district and who are not employed by the district. One of those members shall serve as chair or co-chair of the SHAC.
The current SHAC consist of four interim members and the nurse coordinator, Norma Thomas, RN, none of which were parents of VAISD students. Additionally, it is the goal for 2025/2026 membership to also include 10 voting members with a one year term and five VAISD Board appointed members with a two year term. According to VAISD policy, only the appointed chair can be a VAISD employee.
Nurse Thomas, RN, served as the SHAC Coordinator who was responsible for logging meeting attendance, the documentation of meeting minutes, setting SHAC agenda, and other documentation as necessary. Since there was not a board appointed chair, Nurse Thomas, RN also acted as the interim chair. SHAC information was posted to the SHAC website in a timely manner.
In addition to the previously identified District Nurse Coordinator, Norma Thomas, RN, the following listed individuals are interim members of the 2024/2025 VAISD SHAC:
Dr. Westmoreland
Ryan Coleman
Kristi Odom
Brooke Pylant
SHAC Webpage
The SHAC has a district webpage maintained by VAISD. This page can be found under the district’s Health and Wellness tab at https://www.vanalstyneisd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=671193&type=d&pREC_ID=945377.
This page provides required information including Bylaws, Duties, and meeting dates. SHAC meeting agendas, minutes, and recorded audio are also posted.
Annual Reporting Criteria
Although BDF of the VAISD’s Wellness Plan does not specifically state that SHAC shall submit to the board at least annually, this 2024/2025 annual report will be provided as required by Senate Bill 283, “the SHAC will submit an annual written report to the Board of Directors” which will include the following:
- Any SHAC recommendation concerning the district’s health education curriculum and instruction or related matters that the SHAC has not previously submitted to the board.
- Any suggested modification to a SHAC recommendation previously submitted to the board.
- A detailed explanation of the SHAC’s activities during the period between the date of the current report and the date of the last prior written report.
- Any recommendations made by the physical activity and fitness planning subcommittee.
Required Board Updates
Update Requirement-SHAC Recommendations to the Board
Regarding board update requirement-Senate Bill 530 Amended Section 28.004 (k) of the TEC to require a school district to publish certain statements in the student handbook and on the district’s Internet website, including a statement related to parental access to their child’s physical fitness results.
Update Requirement-Senate Bill 1018 requires each district’s local SHAC to establish a physical activity and fitness (permanent) subcommittee to consider issues relating to student physical activity and fitness and to make policy recommendations to increase physical activity and improve fitness among students.
Update Requirement-Senate Bill SB 9, Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to update the duties of the each school district’s local SHAC in recommending child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking curriculum.
Update Requirement-Senate Bill 435, Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to expand the duties of each school district’s local SHAC to include recommending grade-level appropriate education regarding opioid addiction and abuse to include 6th-12th grade.
Update Requirement-Detailed Explanation of Activities. Regarding board update requirement, “A detailed explanation of the SHAC’s activities during the period between the date of the current report and the date of the last prior written report” (Please see the following subsections for activities related to this year’s SHAC activities).
Update Requirement-Modifications to Previous Recommendations. Regarding board update requirement, “Any SHAC recommendation concerning the district’s health education curriculum and instruction or related matters that the SHAC has not previously submitted to the board, must be submitted to the board”. The 2024/2025 VAISD SHAC did not make any modifications to the recommended health curriculum material that was recommended to the board during the SHAC 2024/2025 annual report.
Update Requirement-Recommendations by Physical and Fitness Subcommittee. Regarding board update requirement, “Any recommendations made by the physical activity and fitness planning subcommittee”. There were no recommendations made by the physical activity and fitness planning subcommittee for the 2024-2025 school year. The VAISD SHAC did not have the required committee in place.
Meeting Dates
The VAISD SHAC under the current officers met on two occasions during the 2024-2025 school year. TEA 28.004 (a) and BDF states that SHAC shall meet on four occasions each school year.
March 26th, 2025
April 23rd, 2025
Accomplishments and Activities
- SHAC determined the number of voting members/terms for 2025/2026 school year.
- VAISD SHAC will provide board recommendations that align with the Senate Bill 9 requirements for the instruction/education on presentation related to child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and human trafficking.
- Discussed the need to implement a process for parents to opt in and opt out of OTC medication
- Explored ways to better educate parents and the community about the school nutrition program
- Discussed progression towards implementing all components of the WSCC model
Conclusion
SHAC achieved its main goals for the 2024-2025 school year.
Goals
1) Review/update SHAC Bylaws with rebuilding of SHAC leadership
2) Outline SHAC’s Scope (per Education Code 28.004 and local policy)
3) Wellness Policy-SHAC shall develop a wellness plan to implement the district's Nutrition
Guidelines and review the policy every three years
4) Define SHAC sub-committee for 2025/2026 structure and align with TEA recommendations
5) Discuss progression towards implementing all components of the WSCC
“School Health” model
This concludes the 2024/2025 SHAC Annual Report.
SHAC Agendas, Minutes, and Annual Reports