April 2017 SHAC Meeting

April 5, 2017
AISD Board Room
Present: Kathy Green, Tracy Lunoff, Dr. Stephen Pont, Barri Rosenbluth, Hugh Simmons, Patricia Bernal,
Joseph Mitchell, Karen Spruce, Ryan Cengel, Victoria Finnegan, Julie Cowan, Maria Graziani, Rafael
Soriano, Yolanda Torres, Dr. Barbara Brink, Michelle Smith, Vivian Ballard, Alda Santana, Melody Carlton,
Becky Morales, Katie Wolfe, Lauren Dimitry Nottingham, Toni Rayner, Jackie Platt, Andrew Wiggins,
Ronda Rutledge, Amanda Hyde, Shannon Sandrea, Jennifer Delgado, Valerie Sterne, Dolly Lambdin.

LASA students presenting: Alex Mancevski (Junior), Sruthi Ilangovan (Freshman); Elisabeth Torres-
Schulte (Sophomore), Connor Fierro (Sophomore): The Health through Science (HTS) Initiative is a
student-run community service project that was launched in October 2016 targeting 16 Title I schools
around LASA high school. The student volunteers use visual and kinetic learning tools and serve as teen
role models to promote interest in science and particularly health-related science fair projects. LASA
students go to elementary schools on late start days. They address health-related topics. They are
partnering with Dell Children’s Hospital and UT School of Public Health to give awards to outstanding
science fair projects. Another component is presenting at health fairs and CATCH nights. Last year they
had 16 Title I elementary schools and 53 LASA volunteers. More than 700 student service hours were
provided in 2016. After visiting with younger students, the volunteers follow up with teachers through
email and then they communicate with younger students through Google docs to help them prepare
their projects. They are encouraging students to study health-related topics. The HTS website is
http://atstowers1.wixsite.com/healththroughscience.

To set up a program the HTS Liaison works with each campus separately to accommodate schedules.
Bilingual support is available for Spanish-speaking students. During the school visits, volunteers do
interactive activities which are educational and provide examples of research topics. In subsequent visits
the volunteers help students create trifold displays. By working in small groups the volunteers build
more personal relationships with younger students. They teach them how to create graphs, charts, and
other science fair elements. HTS helps schools run their own science fairs and give students the
opportunity to meet real scientists in their community. The best two projects with a health topic were
selected from participating schools. Winners and their families will be recognized and their projects will
be displayed at the Dell Family Fun Fair. The HTS initiative is working to educate our entire community
on health, nutrition, safety and related issues. They are hoping to increase the number of awards and
the number of participants. 2016-17 events include the Con Mi Madre STEM Fair focused on increasing
college readiness for girls. The Winn Elementary Science Night provided opportunities for students to
work with volunteers on health-related exhibits. School Science Fairs included Dawson Elementary, Oak
Springs Elementary, and Pecan Springs Elementary.

Minutes: Feb and March minutes were approved with minor edits, attached.

Presentation: District Segregation, Valerie Sterne, Asst., Principal, Andrews Elementary

Valerie looked at Austin ISD elementary school (81 schools) data. She found that economically
disadvantaged children are the majority in 39 out of 81 schools. There are no schools that have equal
numbers of disadvantaged and advantaged students. Based on the 14-15 TEA Report Cards White
students predominantly go to low poverty schools, Black and Hispanic students overwhelmingly go to
high poverty schools. There are two separate school systems. The students are not going to school
together. Does this reflect our values? See attached ppt. handout.

Why does this matter? Integration narrows the achievement gap. Integration increases college
participation, reduces incarceration among minorities, reduces health disparities. No negative effects
have been demonstrated for White students. Integration helps all children build relationships across
racial and economic differences. Blackshear is becoming racially and economically integrated as the
White population increases. Parents are happy about the increased integration at the school. Minority
parents were afraid that minority students would ultimately be squeezed out by gentrification.
Academic data at Blackshear surpassed city and state averages, even before integration.
Implementation of curricula and common behavioral expectations and interventions were identified as
having contributed to high performance. Many White parents don’t know how segregated our schools
are while minority parents are aware. Valerie proposes that we have intentional policies to better
diversify our schools.

Valerie doesn’t think that parents want bussing of elementary students. There are different models. We
should talk to the community and then look at different approaches. Members discussed advantages of
integrated schools. Julie Cowan reported that the issue of desegregation is a topic of discussion for the
Board. Valerie clarified that desegregation could be accomplished in different ways by attracting people
to opt in through innovative programming, providing transportation, or other methods. The FABPAC is
also looking at separating K-2 and 3-5 grades to ease overcrowding with the effect of also mixing income
levels. Members also discussed the need to diversify the SHAC to have a bigger voice in the system. The
District Advisory Council is educating realtors on the schools. Valerie believes that integration is needed
because this is the world we live in. Working at Andrews she knows that disadvantaged students have a
harder time than others due to the PTSD they experience from living in poverty and all that entails.

Update on 85th Legislative Session, Kathy Green

Tracy reported that HB 11 is an excellent bill addressing an ecological approach to mental health.

Kathy reported that HB 305/SB 180 addresses bullying, sexual harassment and cyber-bulling.

Tracy discussed SB 411 which relates to the participation of campus-based mental health professionals
in certain health benefit plans.

Members discussed various school health-related bills addressing immunizations, sex ed, SHAC
membership, recommendations and minutes, recess, contraceptives. See attached handout for
legislative tracking.

Board Report: Julie Cowan. To see the bills that AISD is tracking go to AISD website. Julie reported that
AISD supports the house bill funding for public education, which is willing to use money from the rainy
day fund.

District Reports:
PE and Health: AISD submitted a 4 million dollar proposal to the Governor’s Office (VOCA-Victims of
Crime Assistance) to expand mental health services to elementary schools in 3 vertical teams for
children exposed to violence. The proposal was not recommended by the committee but is going
forward to the Governor’s Office.
Advancing School Mental Health Conference-Tracy submitted a proposal and was accepted to present
on advancing the ecological model of care in schools. Hogg Foundation thanked the District for its
progress in partnering to provide mental health services on campuses.

Employee Wellness: Telemedicine –increased employee participation saving the district $21,000. The
Big Pink Seton Bus provided preventative screenings for staff. The Mayor of Austin is promoting Million
Mile Month—encouraging people to increase physical activity. Encourage youth and adults to
participate.

Nutrition and Food Service: Ryan Cengel reported that we served around 81,000 meals in March almost
2 thousand more than last year. We have 71 campuses with salad bars and the remaining 9 elementary
schools will have salad bars by the end of this month. We started serving from a new food truck on the
high school campuses. We will be starting a Chopped Competition at Burnet and Lamar middle schools.

Committee Reports:
SEB: Hugh Simmons is reaching out to Manor, Hays, and Eanes and will be following up with Pflugerville
and Del Valle. This subcommittee is convening SHACS from local districts to craft joint messaging on
student supports. The second SEB subcommittee is working on a youth-led session at the AISD SEL
symposium in June. Members are meeting tonight with Youth Launch.

Sex Ed.: Alda proposed changes to the language in district policy as follows: “In reference to EHAA
(Local) Policy, AISD should delete “demonstrated nor” from the sentence “Contraceptive devices shall
not be demonstrated nor disseminated in District facilities.” The proposed text complies with TEC
28.004. Revision of EHAA (Local) Curriculum Parameters, last paragraph. Alda discussed the importance
for students to see actual contraceptive devices and how they are used effectively. All other
requirements would stay the same. This change would allow teachers to demonstrate condom use. The
new text is consistent with the state’s language. Teachers could access training from local organizations.
Julie asked the committee to ensure that parents are informed about any changes. Discussion was had
on the timeline of submitting the recommendation to district administrators and the Board for final
approval.

A motion was made, seconded and voted on to accept the committee’s recommendation as written.

Community Comments:
Dell Children’s 5K on Saturday!

Meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.