School Health Advisory Council

Meeting Agenda

The first SHAC meeting of the 2025-26 school year focused on the development and refinement of the draft wellness policy, emphasizing the importance of community feedback and collaboration among committee members. Denita R Jones introduced a new committee member, Lawrence Getwood, and outlined the meeting norms to foster respectful communication. Robin R Rhodes highlighted the need for improvements based on past triennial assessments, aiming for board approval of the updated plan by December. The draft wellness policy will be circulated to participants for review before the next meeting on November 17th, allowing time for input and ensuring that all voices are considered in the policy's development.

Key topics included the implementation of physical activity goals to promote health and reduce obesity, with a monitoring process involving Mr. Rhodes. Transparency in food safety was also discussed, with proposals to post food inspection results online and ensure compliance with nutritional guidelines during campus events. Denita R Jones addressed the implications of Senate Bill 12 regarding parental consent for school-based health services, while Kevin Pearson introduced a new Saturday Camp at the YMCA for school-age children, which has seen increased participation due to transportation provided by Port Arthur ISD. The meeting concluded with announcements about upcoming National School Lunch Week activities and a reminder of the next SHAC meeting scheduled for November 17th.

Subtopics:

SHAC Meeting Opening Remarks
Denita R Jones welcomed participants to the first SHAC meeting of the 2025-26 school year and introduced new member Lawrence Getwood. Melvin G Getwood highlighted the importance of the committee's advisory role and praised Dr. Jones for her leadership in engaging members. The meeting was recorded, and participants were encouraged to share their thoughts while adhering to established norms.

Review of Wellness Policy and Legislative Updates
Denita R Jones emphasized the need for input on the draft wellness plan, which is still in development. Robin R Rhodes noted that previous feedback indicated the need for measurable goals in the wellness policy, and he expressed the goal of obtaining board approval by December. The committee is encouraged to provide suggestions before the next meeting on November 17th.

Review of Wellness Plan Goals
Denita R Jones highlighted the wellness plan's goals for physical activity and nutrition promotion, noting the district's commitment to ensuring that food and beverages marketed to students promote health. She mentioned the involvement of stakeholders and the action steps to be taken, as well as the methods for measuring success. Mr. Rhodes was invited to provide additional feedback on the plan.

Food Inspection and Fundraiser Guidelines Discussion
Robin R Rhodes highlighted the necessity of posting food inspection results on campus websites to enhance transparency and public awareness. He addressed compliance with nutritional guidelines for campus events, stating that requests for exceptions should be submitted and approved in advance. Additionally, he recommended that food fundraisers should consist of items that require further preparation at home, rather than items that can be consumed immediately.

Senate Bill 12 and Parental Consent for Health Services
Denita R Jones outlined the requirements of Senate Bill 12, which necessitates parental consent for students to access various health services offered by the school district. She mentioned the types of services available, such as medication administration and mental health counseling, and emphasized the importance of obtaining consent to comply with the new law. Efforts to reach parents include online forms, paper copies, and dedicated webpage resources.

Updates on YMCA Programs and Upcoming Events
Kevin Pearson detailed the new Saturday Camp at the YMCA, which will provide licensed childcare for school-age children from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting October 27th. He noted that Port Arthur ISD is now providing transportation for students to the YMCA after school, resulting in a substantial increase in attendance. Denita R Jones inquired about parent awareness regarding these programs and Pearson confirmed that information is being shared through flyers and word of mouth.

Meeting Agenda

The second School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meeting of the 2025-26 school year focused on reviewing the district's wellness plan, which aligns with the wellness policy and outlines goals for nutrition promotion and physical activity. Dr. Denita Jones emphasized the importance of documenting existing practices to ensure compliance with federal requirements for school meals. Robin Rhodes highlighted that the district is already meeting the objectives of the wellness plan, while Kevin Pearson sought clarification on specific physical activity requirements for elementary students.

Dr. Jones addressed the limitations on competitive foods and fundraisers, stating that schools can only utilize exceptions for six days each year. She encouraged schools to communicate these days to the administration to improve lunch planning and minimize food waste. Rhodes supported this by noting that awareness of these exceptions aids in compliance with regulations and effective food service management. Both emphasized the need to balance enjoyable activities for students with the requirements of the national school lunch program.

Felicia Curry and Shalana Washington presented the TOPS initiative aimed at combating opioid misuse among Texas youth through education and community engagement. The initiative targets over 5 million students and includes a systematic approach to prevention education, particularly highlighting House Bill 3908, which mandates annual instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention for students in grades 6 through 12. Washington introduced the Think Smart curriculum, a five-week program focusing on interactive skills-based learning related to opioid prevention.

Sandra Castille introduced an advocacy initiative for sickle cell disease, sharing her personal connection and the need for community support. She discussed efforts to raise awareness, including setting up a booth at a back-to-school event, and emphasized the importance of educating families. Tamika Bellard raised concerns about classroom conditions for students with sickle cell disease, while Castille suggested alternatives to space heaters for managing symptoms.

Additionally, Doris Viltz expressed the need for parental consent when sharing sensitive information, and Judith Smith inquired about the logistics of form collection. Robin Rhodes also discussed the potential addition of peanut butter sandwiches to the school menu as a lunch alternative, but concerns about allergies and cross-contamination were raised by several nurses.

Subtopics:

SHAC Meeting Overview and Wellness Plan Discussion
Dr. Denita Jones opened the second SHAC Meeting of the 2025-26 school year, highlighting the council's purpose in advising on school health programs. The meeting focused on a final review of the wellness plan, which was created to accompany the district's wellness policy and includes goals for nutrition and physical activity. Robin Rhodes confirmed that the district is already implementing the objectives outlined in the plan, which primarily serves to document existing efforts.

Fundraising and Food Sales Guidelines
Denita R Jones outlined the rules for competitive foods and fundraisers, highlighting that only six days per campus are allowed for exceptions. She encouraged schools to utilize these days effectively and to consider fundraisers that do not involve direct food sales on campus. Robin R Rhodes added that proper planning around these days helps manage lunch services and reinforces compliance with nutrition standards.

Overview of Triennial Assessment and Community Partnerships
Denita R Jones provided an overview of the triennial assessment, highlighting that the results will be made available to the public on the district's website. She acknowledged the collaborative effort in creating the wellness plan, which will be presented to the Board of Trustees. Jones also offered to share the document with anyone who did not receive it.

Texas Opioid Prevention for Stevens Initiative Overview
Felicia Curry introduced the TOPS initiative aimed at providing opioid prevention education to Texas students from K through 12. The initiative addresses the rising issue of opioid misuse and includes community engagement activities and targeted interventions for at-risk students. Curry highlighted Tucker's Law, which requires schools to implement fentanyl abuse prevention education and establish a fentanyl poisoning awareness week.

Opioid Prevention Strategies and Curriculum Overview
S. M. Washington presented the Think Smart curriculum, which is designed for opioid prevention among middle and high school students. The program consists of five lessons that focus on skills such as problem solving and harm reduction, and it is taught by trained facilitators. Additionally, resources for parents and a fentanyl education presentation were highlighted as part of the initiative.

Community Engagement and Curriculum Discussion
S. M. Washington highlighted the success of community conversations focused on Fentanyl awareness and the collaboration with local organizations. Denita R. Jones mentioned that she would share the sample curriculum with the assistant superintendent for review and follow up on its potential implementation. The discussions also included plans for presentations in faith-based organizations.

Sickle Cell Disease Advocacy Initiative
Sandra Castille presented the Sickle Cell Advocacy Initiative on behalf of the Port Arthur Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction. She discussed her personal experiences with sickle cell disease, including her family's struggles and the impact of the disease on individuals' health. Castille emphasized the importance of raising awareness and support for those affected by sickle cell, which is often misunderstood as primarily affecting the African American community.

Advocacy for Sickle Cell Awareness and Support
Sandra Castille outlined a plan to establish an advocacy group focused on sickle cell awareness and support within the community. She proposed that the Port Arthur Independent School District assist by distributing outreach forms through school counselors and nurses to families of students in crisis. The goal is to educate the community about sickle cell disease and provide necessary resources, especially during the winter months.

Discussion on Student Comfort for Sickle Cell Disease
Tamika Bellard expressed her worries about two students with sickle cell disease who struggle with cold temperatures in the classroom. Sandra Castille responded by recommending the use of heating pads and warm mittens instead of space heaters, which could affect air quality for other students. This approach aims to provide comfort without compromising the classroom environment.

Coordination of Sickle Cell Support Initiatives
Doris G Viltz raised concerns about the confidentiality of sickle cell information, stating that parental consent should be obtained before distributing any forms. Sandra Castille proposed creating an informational cover letter to accompany the forms, which would help inform parents prior to their distribution. Judith Smith sought clarification on the process for returning the forms, suggesting that they could either be returned to the school or directly to the health department.

Consideration of Peanut Butter Sandwiches in School Menu
Robin Rhodes proposed adding peanut butter sandwiches to the school menu to enhance nutritional value and provide more appealing meal options for students. Valerie Kinlaw and Sonya Hebert raised concerns about the risk of allergic reactions due to food sharing among elementary students. Other participants echoed these concerns, emphasizing the potential dangers of mistakenly serving sandwiches to allergic children.

Meeting Agenda

The third School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meeting of the 2025-26 school year focused on available social-emotional supports and community partnership activities for students. Dr. Denita Jones opened the meeting with an expectation of virtual meeting norms and welcomed guest presenter, Evan Hoffman, to the council.

Evan Hoffman, Community Outreach Specialist, introduced Admore Behavioral Therapy, a new mental health resource to support the needs of students and families. Admore provides virtual behavioral counseling to anyone 3 years old and up as well as in-person, targeted mental health case management (home-maker services). Services include teaching children coping skills, helping connect parents to community resources, working with kids in school and at home, providing parental skills training, and other services as needed. Admore currently works with several partnering organizations to provide wraparound services to families.

Kevin Pearson announced several programs and activities underway at the YMCA of Southeast Texas. Parents are encouraged to register their children for the after-school program as well as swim lessons. Judith Smith, Director of the City of Port Arthur Health Department, also noted a summer health camp. More details to come.