School Health Advisory Council

The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is a group of individuals that serve at the district level. They provide advice on coordinated school health programming and its impact on student health and learning. SHACs provide recommendations specific to changes and/or additions to the school's health education curriculum or instruction that impact the entire school district, not just individual school campuses. School districts use a SHAC to advise them on a variety of topics. It is important to emphasize that SHACs provide advice and can only make recommendations to the school district Board of Trustees. They are not part of the paid administrative staff or structure of the schools; nor do they have any legal responsibilities within the school district. However, Texas law requires that every school district have a SHAC and the majority of members must be parents not employed by the school district.

The most effective SHACs develop plans that address all eight components of a coordinated school health program including: Health Instruction, Healthy School Environment, Health Services, Physical Education, School Counseling, Food Service, School Site Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff, and Involvement with Parents and the Community.

The members of the SHAC are district employees, parents, and community members. The council meets a minimum of four times each school year to discuss issues and make recommendations to the school board in regard to the health and wellness of the students and employees. If you, as a concerned parent or community member, have issues you would like this group to address please contact the SHAC Coordinator, Amy Whaley, BSN, RN at (361) 767-6641.