SCHOOL HEALTH 201

JILL CAMBER DAVIDSON, ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS

KAYLA JACKSON, AASA

FRAN ZAVACKY, SHAPE AMERICA

CASE STUDY

PHYSICAL EDUCATION WAIVERS

THE SITUATION

School Board Agenda:

Discussion of PE

waiver request.

A teacher calls you

with questions on how

to proceed.

BACKGROUND

A school board may allow a pupil who participates

in sports or in another organized physical activity, as

determined by the school board, to complete an

additional 0.5 credit in English, social studies,

mathematics, science, or health education in lieu of

0.5 credit in physical education.

This provision is optional and up to each school

board to determine whether or not to adopt it.

CASE STUDY

FUNDRAISING AND WELLNESS POLICY

THE SITUATION

You get a phone call from

a school staff member. A

student club wants

exemption to sell candy

bars during the school day

for a fundraiser and wants

you to give an OK on this.

BACKGROUND

Your state allows two fundraising exemptions per

school year.

Maximum length is two weeks for a fundraiser.

State agency must approve exemptions.

Community: parents

and constituents

Students

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD

Equitable access to education for all students in

the district;

Local academic and graduation standards (if

higher than the state);

Resources for promoting academic achievement;

Codes of conduct, student and staff;

ISSUES A SCHOOL BOARD ADDRESSES

Budget planning;

Contract negotiations;

Personnel decisions;

School capacity, closures and building new schools;

School area redistricting;

Transportation policies;

Formulating, revising, approving and enforcing (and

delegating ownership) policy and procedures (including

wellness policies or practices);

Facilities capital improvements and construction; and

Emergency management procedures.

SCHOOL BOARDS ARE INVOLVED IN:

HOW DO I BRING MY ISSUE TO THE SCHOOL

BOARD?

THE ROLE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE YOUR

PARTNERS IN KEEPING KIDS HEALTHY

THE SUPERINTENDENT IS:

CEO of school district and primary educational

leader for the system.

Catalyst for district leadership in implementing

policy.

WHAT THEY DO:

Engages board and community in long-range

planning.

Works with board, community, students and staff in

achieving the vision.

WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU:

Research has shown that if the superintendent is on

board with a program it is more likely to be

implemented and sustained.

APPLES AND ORANGES? DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN US AND THEM

While schools’ goals or hoped-for outcomes for

young people parallel those of health field, their

orienting philosophy and practices and strategies are

different in important ways.

ENTITLEMENTS AND TARGET

POPULATIONS

Public education is a universal entitlement that is

primarily supported by state and local governments

for all children ages 5 up to age 18 or 19 depending

on state and local laws. State law typically mandates

that kids attend school up to a specific age.

Health care in the US is mostly not an entitlement.

The health care system potentially serves the entire

population birth to death, but mostly at the request

of the patient.

FUNDING

Public education is paid for mostly with state and

local tax revenues. Less than 10% of federal money

supports and education and it comes with too many

unfunded mandates.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Schools are accountable to the following:

Parents

Elected Officials (e.g., school boards, local

government officials, school district officials, state

government

Federal Government for NCLB and IDEA as well

as state and federal court rulings

SCHOOL BUDGETS

ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER:

ENGAGING SCHOOLS IN HEALTH

Appeal to what they need, not

just what you want…and schools

have many needs related to

health.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• Schools are hierarchically structured.

• Work through the system, not around it.

• Involve schools/district personnel in planning.

• Form relationships with those at the highest levels

and see them frequently.

SCHOOL STRUCTURE

SCHOOL LEVEL

SCHOOL STRUCTURE

Principal

Assistant Principal or Instructional Lead

Deans or Department Chairs

Classroom Teachers/Instructional Staff

Paraprofessionals and Aides

Support Staff

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES-SCHOOLS

Framing is essential!

Learn about existing school initiatives

Learn about how the school functions

Develop a relationship with the principal

Show how you can support and elevate existing

work

Customize your approach

CASE STUDIES –YOUR TURN

THE SITUATION

School Board Agenda:

Discussion of PE

waiver request.

A teacher calls you

with questions on how

to proceed.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION WAIVERS

• Know the back story

• Ask questions

• What is your scope/role?

• Understand the different layers to the

situation at hand

• How do you partner in the process

• Remember the hierarchy of communication

and decisions

THE SITUATION

You get a phone call from

a school staff member. A

student club wants

exemption to sell candy

bars during the school day

for a fundraiser and wants

you to give an OK on this.

FUNDRAISING EXEMPTION AND LWP

• Know the back story

• Ask questions

• What is your scope/role?

• Understand the different layers to the

situation at hand

• How do you partner in the process

• Remember the hierarchy of communication

and decisions

OTHER RESOURCES

AASA – the School Superintendents

Association www.aasa.org

Action for Healthy Kids

www.actionforhealthykids.org

Shape America

www.shapeamerica.org

National Association of State Boards of

Education

www.nasbe.org

National School Board Association

www.nsba.org

www.asbj.com

QUESTIONS? CONTACT INFORMATION

Jill Camber Davidson, Action for Healthy Kids

jcamberdavidson@actionforhealthykids.org

Kayla Jackson, AASA

kjackson@aasa.org

Fran Zavacky, SHAPE America

FZavacky@shapeamerica.org