Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC)

[curnowc]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

October 27, 2009

 

The School Health Advisory Council met Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 4:00 pm in Room 219 of Lincoln Center. Virginia Mermel presided over the meeting. Attending were, Bette Hunt, Bernie Mason, Karen Dawson, Kay Schwartz, Marvin Forquer, Eli Hovland, Bradley Ruff, Beverly McHugh, Paul Manning, Fred Nainy, Anne Nichols

 

Introductions

Virginia Mermel welcomed the committee and introduced new members Bradley Ruff, Marvin Forquer and Fred Nainy.

 

Status Of Current Projects

Fund Raising and Concession Policy - Virginia Mermel updated the committee on the status of the Fund Raising & Concession Policy. The Food Fund Raising and Concession Stand Policies developed by SHAC were approved by the school board and are available on the SD-2 website. The district is in the process of updating other rules and regulations regarding fund raising and promised to re-emphasize the SHAC guidelines but there have been several instances of non-compliance in terms of competitive foods sold for fund raising during the school day. Committee members including Paul Manning and Bette Hunt have observed this trend at Senior & West Highs.

 

Walk to School Week – This event took place the week of October 5th with more elementary schools participating than in the past. Kathy Aragon who coordinated the event will provide us with updated numbers by our next meeting.

 

Back Pack Program – Virginia Mermel informed the committee that funding through the Montana Food Bank Network was made available to provide 4 nutritionally balanced, shelf stable, ready to eat meals to students who are enrolled in the free and reduce meal program during the school year and who do not have enough to eat on the weekends. Karen Dawson is co-chairing the BackPack Project and is helping to make sure that the food is distributed to the appropriate schools.

 

At the present time Back Pack meals are being sent to 376 children in the Title I Elementary Schools that have 50% or more enrollment in the free and reduced meal program. Ginny explained that starting November 1st meals were going to be provided to the other three Title I schools through funding from the grant and funds from the State of MT. Starting Friday Nov 6th, SHAC will be distributing 506 meal packets each Friday of the school year. Additional meals will be provided to students before school breaks. The terms of the grant give Billings one year in which to establish the BackPack program. Starting in Fall 2010 it will be up to the community to raise approximately $100,000.00 needed for next year. A BackPack fund has been established through the Foundation for Public Education. A grant has already been received from 1st Interstate Bank Foundation for $4,000.00 and that amount was matched by the employees ( total $8000). Ginny informed the committee that she has submitted a couple more grants – one from Western Security Bank and one to a regional food bank network. However, our chances of funding through the regional network are slim as many other communities have even higher numbers of students in need of weekend meals. The local Soroptimist Club has established a new program called Bright Eyes dedicated to reducing hunger in our community. They are selling Herbergers Community Days Coupon Books (November 14th) for $5.00 each. Every cent goes directly to the BackPack meal fund.

 

In the Billings Public Schools about 33% of the total K-12 student population is receiving free and reduced meals (this is over 5100 students) – the count is up over 700 from last year at this time; More students probably qualify than participate since many drop out when they reach high school due to the social stigma; 42% of students in K-8th participate in the free and reduced meals program, but only 18-22% of high school students are enrolled.

 

A discussion took place about how to deliver the large number of meals students will receive during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. The vocational education students from Lincoln Center have been helping set up the weekly deliveries. However, additional hands will be necessary during the holidays. Bette Hunt informed the committee that Sodexo is going to add a few extra items in the Christmas Backpacks. Paul Manning offered the use of his YMCA “short” bus to deliver food to students’ homes if the principals agree. Ginny will poll the principals about the best delivery method for Christmas break meals.

 

Bette Hunt reported that at the yearly Sodexho client expectation meeting it was decided Sodexho would provide a universal free breakfast program starting with Orchard and then branching out to as many Title I schools as possible. Another idea that came out of the meeting was to pre-enroll students from outlying schools- that feed into the Billings Public Schools- in the free and reduced meals program before school is out so they are approved for free or reduced lunches before they start school in Billings in the fall.

 

Bette Hunt would like to find another principal that would be interested in applying for the U.S. Healthier Challenge Gold Award.

 

Bette Hunt also reported that the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program seems to be very popular with students and staff. Currently 8 of the 10 Title 1 grammar schools participate. Ginny said she will ask Katie Bark, MT Team Nutrition Prog. Coordinator, how soon we may be able to roll out the FFVP at the remaining Title 1 schools.

 

Ginny Mermel informed the committee that SHAC has 3 goals she can think of for this year:

 

#1. Access the implementation status of the existing SHAC Nutrition and Physical Activity Recommendations. In order to qualify for any of the grants that are available from the Federal government starting in January it is necessary to have a current school health status assessment. Ginny will check with Thomas Harper on getting access to the schools. Ginny has seen a CDC school wellness survey that she believes she can easily adapt to use in our schools. Bev McHugh asked how we would administer the survey. Ginny said she feels it is best if we can visit all the schools and see for ourselves how the wellness recommendations are being implemented. Others on the committee agreed.

 

#2. Focus on increasing physical activity for students in all grade levels. Kathy Aragon and group from Big Sky State Games is trying to set up some cross country and track experiences for 4th, 5th and 6th graders in four district elementary schools. A problem with liability insurance is being worked out. Concern about injuries and lack of sports physicals seem to be part of the problem. Additionally, teachers are balking at supervising the activities without receiving stipends as dictated in their union contract. Paul Manning offered to fold the program in under the YMCA after school programs so his insurance would cover participants. Dan Gall, Robert Roe, Jennifer Stanton and Paul Manning are still working on ways to enhance physical activity at all grade levels through

 

A discussion ensued regarding the $40,000 short fall in the middle school activities budget. Paul Manning said he contacted Dave Wilson and offered to provide activities the way he does for some of the small neighboring school districts (Elkhorn , Lockwood, Roberts, etc) but there was no interest. Ginny reported that late last spring and over the summer she and Bette Hunt tried to get one of the middle schools to commitment to accept a $7,000 grant from the Dairy Council and NFL that could have been used toward activities. Ginny had even talked Dairy Council into providing a $1500 stipend for a teacher coordinator. No one took her and Bette up on the offer.

 

A discussion took place regarding the apparent disconnect in SHAC Recommendations and actions and the Board. One suggestion was to get Board representation on the SHAC committee. It was suggested that board members and administrators be invited to the next SHAC meeting scheduled for December 8, 2009. Anne Nichols suggested that perhaps a monthly summary of the ongoing projects being presented by SHAC be presented to the superintendent, administrators and board members. SD-2 Board member Kathy Aragon, serves as health liaison and does provides updates, but Anne thought providing a formal written summary directly from SHAC to the Board may improve communications and commitment from the Board. Bev voiced what several people where trying to articulate, “Is the Board aware of our efforts and is it committed to a healthy school environment of not?”

 

There was interest in having SHAC members make a formal presentation to the Board, about SHAC activities as well as some of the challenges SHAC faces in terms of getting action on issues by the schools.

 

 

Upcoming Meetings

Next SHAC meeting is scheduled for December 1, 2009 - Room 219 – Lincoln Center

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

__________________________

Virginia Mermel, Chair

____________________

Cindy Curnow, Recorder