Matthew Cooper

The meeting commenced with introductions among staff and parents. Key discussion points focused on establishing the authority, purpose, and core responsibilities of the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) as mandated by the Texas Education Code, covering areas such as curriculum guidance, mental health, physical health, and public transparency requirements. The group engaged in procedural exercises to practice making motions, seconding, and voting to approve the meeting agenda and the minutes from the previous September 12th meeting. The council then proceeded to adopt a proposed SHAC vision statement and a mission statement, ensuring alignment with the district's mission. A major required action was the formation of the Physical Activity and Fitness Planning Subcommittee, with initial volunteers identified. Preliminary topics for the next meeting, scheduled for January 29, 2026, were discussed, including a presentation from Austin Public Health regarding mental health and human sexuality curriculum strategies.

The meeting commenced with introductions, followed by a review of the School Health Advisory Council's (SHAC) authority, role, and responsibilities as mandated by Texas Education Code Chapter 28.004, focusing on advising the Board of Trustees regarding health curriculum. The council conducted training on parliamentary procedures, agreeing to use unanimous consent for efficiency. The SHAC bylaws were reviewed and adopted. Key discussions included developing and approving the SHAC's collective Vision and Mission statements, which center on establishing a health foundation for academic success and fostering a supportive environment. Furthermore, the required Physical Activity and Fitness Planning Subcommittee was officially formed, and a schedule for future meetings was set, including a follow-up meeting to discuss the Austin Healthy Adolescent (AHA) program and human sexuality curriculum.

The 2025-2026 Official Budget for Austin Achieve Public Schools outlines the financial plan for the district, emphasizing sound financial management, integrity, and accountability. The budget prioritizes resources to support the district's mission of preparing Austin youth for top universities by closing the opportunity gap. Key areas of focus include instruction, personnel, and facilities, with a commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement in resource allocation.

The 2024 Federal Report Card for Austin Achieve Public Schools outlines long-term goals and interim progress measurements for all students and subgroups, focusing on academic performance in reading/ELA and mathematics, EL progress, and graduation rates. It details the state's accountability system, including indicators for academic achievement, growth, ELP, and school quality, and differentiates schools based on these metrics. The report also includes campus ESSA goals, STAAR performance data, participation rates, and information on teacher quality, per-pupil expenditure, and chronic absenteeism.

The meeting included discussion on the Austin Achieve stakeholder mission and values, enrollment updates, 2022-2023 dashboard updates, 2021 STAAR comparative results, July financials, land/financing updates, facilities updates for both the Pflugerville site and a potential new site, development updates, and the TPCSA conference dates/training hours. A CEO performance review was conducted in a closed session. Contract approvals for Austin Bounce House Rental, Qualtrics, Soundwaves, and UT Onramps were also made.