School Health Advisory Committee

  • Florida Healthy School District
    Gold  Award

    Florida Healthy School District Gold Award
     

    Mission Statement

    "The Pinellas County SHAC is committeed to promoting life-long wellness by supporting a healthy learning environment."

     

    What is SHAC?

    Pinellas County Schools has a School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), made up of a broad cross-section of parents, students, and school, health, business and community leaders. Together, the SHAC serves as problem-solvers and advisors to the school district on health related issues.  SHAC can also identify needs and opportunities to maximize community resources.

     

    Statutory Authority for SHAC:  sS.381.0056 FS references

    • Responsibility for development of School Health Plan
    • School Health Plan content
    • School Health Advisory Committee involvement in policies

     

    Why do we need SHAC?

    Now more than ever, students face new challenges and risks. These challenges and risks affect their physical and emotional health and the quality of their future.  They need parents along with community, health and school representatives to be involved.  Educators realize that a child's physical, emotional, social and mental health directly affects behaviors and learning.

    Experience has shown that when schools join parents and the community together, there is a great positive impact on the health and education of our students.

     

    Membership

    Membership of SHAC reflects the Coordinated School Health Model consisting of eight health components representing:

    • Comprehensive Health Education
    • Physical Education
    • School Health Services
    • School Counseling
    • Nutrition Services
    • Healthy School Environment
    • School site health promotion for staff
    • Family and Commuity involvement in school health
     
     
    The SHAC is directed by the Pinellas County Schools superintendent to develop, implement and monitor the district Administrative Guidelines for Wellness, Physical Activity and Nutrition.
     
     
     
     

    Interested?

    General SHAC meetings are held quarterly, with a core committee that meets monthly. Quarterly meetings are open to parents and community members interested in issues facing student health.  Quarterly meetings are held on the third Wednesday in January, March, May, and August.

    One of the many functions of SHAC is to serve as the approval body for the school district Wellness Guidelines. These Wellness Guidelines are reviewed for revision annually.  Any SHAC member can propose Wellness Guideline changes.

     

    1. Draft form of the Wellness Guidelines is presented to SHAC membership at the January General meeting.
    2. SHAC members are then presented the opportunity to provide feedback on any proposed changes.
    3. Feedback is compiled, and a final version of the Wellness Guidelines is presented to SHAC membership for approval at the March General meeting.
    4. Annually in April, the Guidelines are then presented to the School Board.