Introduction: School Health Advisory Councils
A School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is an advisory group of individuals appointed by the school board to represent different segments of the community and designated to discuss and advise the board on a broad array of topics related to student health and wellness programming and education. Texas law (Texas Education Code, Title 2, Subtitle F, Chapter 28, Subchapter A, §28.004) requires the establishment of a SHAC for every school district, including charter schools. The law designates many required duties of the SHAC and the state endorses the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model of student wellness. SHACs are required to meet at least four times each year and the state requires the committee be comprised of at least half non-employee parent or guardian members.
If you have questions about the UT Charter SHAC or are interested in joining, please reach out to Caris Vollentine – caris.vollentine@austin.utexas.edu or 512-471-0740. We are always looking for more parent and community members to join our committee in the pursuit of student wellness in all areas of life!
UTUCS SHAC Information
Mission Statement:
The mission of the UTUCS School Health Advisory Council is to create safe school environments that nurture physical, mental, emotional, and social health so that all students are able to learn at their highest potential.
Committee Purpose & Goals:
The purpose of the UTUCS SHAC to promote school health, which the district has defined as:
Coordinated services and programs created to remove barriers to student academic progress by promoting physical health, meaningful social connections, and age-appropriate emotional development
In alignment with that definition, the UTUCS SHAC will:
- Ensure the school district’s school health programs reflect local community values;
- Serve as an open forum for discussion of school health and wellness within the district and;
- Advise the Board on topics related to school health at every level of education, including Health Education Programs, Coordinated School Health Programs, and adoption of a Human Sexuality Instruction curriculum.
Committee Bylaws:
The bylaws governing the UTUCS SHAC are under revision due to changes in state law and will be updated after the next committee meeting
Current Committee Members:
- Caris Vollentine, Co-Chair – UTCSS Operations Specialist
- Janie Ruiz, Co-Chair – UTUCS Parent Representative
- Dr. Nicole Whetstone, UTCSS Superintendent
- Jazlyn Parker, UTUCS Instructional Aide
- Skye Thomas, UTUCS Classroom Teacher
- Lori Acrea, UTUCS Executive Principal
- Leigh Wetzel, UTUCS Instructional Aide
- Angela Tisdale, UTUCS Physical Education Teacher
- Dr. Veronica Ruiz Winner, UTCSS Director of Professional Development & Curriculum
Public Comment & Committee Participation:
All members of the school community, including parents/guardians, facility staff, case workers, surrogates, etcetera, are encouraged to report concerns or make suggestions for public discussion at the next SHAC Meeting by completing the School Health Internet Comment Portal. Reports may be made anonymously.
SHAC Meetings are open to the public, and all community members are invited to attend. Each meeting will also have a section devoted to public comments where the committee will allow in-person comments to be made and discussed as well as review any comments submitted to the Internet Comment Portal linked above. Information on attending meetings can be found below.
Meeting Information: UTUCS SHAC
Public Notice – Next Meeting:
The next scheduled School Health Advisory Council meeting will take place:
- Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Meeting Time: 4:30-5:30 pm
- Meeting Location: Online – Zoom Link
- Meeting Audience: Public Meeting, open to all
- Agenda: 1.8.2026 UTUCS SHAC Meeting Agenda
- Public Comment Information:
- All community members may use the School Health Internet Comment Form to submit a concern, question, or topic for discussion at the next SHAC Meeting.
- To request an in-person comment during a scheduled SHAC meeting, please email Caris Vollentine (caris.vollentine@austin.utexas.edu) at least one hour prior to scheduled meeting.
Previous Agendas & Minutes
October 30, 2025
All meeting records are stored in the Public Information – UTUCS SHAC Folder
Health & Wellness Resource Library
The Health & Wellness Resource Library is under revision due to changes in state law and will be updated after the next committee meeting
Local Wellness Policy
The UTUCS Local Wellness Policy is under revision due to changes in state law and will be updated after the next committee meeting