Thank you so much to everyone who has signed the petition!!! Below is a summary of the board's response last Thursday. The board members do seem eager to have these policies reviewed, which is a good start. It seems the review will be done by the School Health Advisory Board (SHAB). I will be attending the SHAB meeting tomorrow. You can still share the petition with friends! I would love to have as many people sign as possible so that the board knows these two issues have to be addressed until they are resolved in a positive way. You can read the full update on my blog: communitywell.com. The board's response: a summary • Weigh-ins are an optional part of a Virginia Department of Education physical fitness test. However, it was also stated that the Move to Health Organization is part of the School Health Advisory Board, and they want the data "to see where we're at and what change we need to make with our community." • Weigh-ins are currently suspended (it wasn't stated why). • Patrick Johnson, Coordinator of Health and Physical Education, reported that PE teachers "don't think [weighing students] an effective practice." • Taking away recess as punishment, or Recess Academy, originated in Jackson-Via and Cale Elementary Schools about three or four years ago when administrators and teachers at the school read the book Setting Limits in the Classroom, which recommends the use of Recess Academy. • The School Health Advisory Board are reviewing both policies (weigh-ins and taking away recess). Their next meeting is Tuesday, May 9. • Rosa Atkins, CCS Superintendent, said that Recess Academy is used "just as a quick check. It is never their intent to take away recess from any of the students." • Because of Dr. Atkins' comment, I decided to stay until the end of the meeting, when public comment was again open. I appreciate Dr. Atkins' understanding, but the stories about Recess Academy that I have heard indicates that it is not the case that it is used only as a quick check. Half or even whole classes sometimes have their recess taken away. There are children who have their recess taken away almost every day. I stated to the board that it is difficult as a parent to see that there is such a disconnect between what is happening on the ground and what the school board is aware of. However, I do know that we are all on the same team, wanting what is best for our students. • Board member Jennifer McKeever confirmed that recess taken away as punishment is discouraged in the wellness policy but is explicitly prohibited by another set of guidelines. I couldn't catch what the other guidelines were called. • School Board Chair Juandiego Wade concluded the conversation about Recess Academy with, "It comes down to what policy says and what’s in practice. I think there is a gap there.” My take • First and very importantly, I support our teachers. I want to advocate for them to have the resources they need, including in directing the behavior of students. Whether that is training in alternative methods for discipline, assistants in the classroom, or something else, if we can identify what is needed to stop the use of Recess Academy, I want to be part of helping teachers get it. • There are some wonderful things happening in Cville city schools. Patricia Jennings, an associate professor at UVA, talked about mindfulness training she is doing with teachers. As she was talking, I was thinking, "This is exactly the antidote to Recess Academy!" • There is also a program called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Taking away recess is against its ethos, according to James Henderson Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, who spoke at the meeting. • When Dr. Atkins stated that Recess Academy is used "just as a quick check," I wasn't clear if she thought that was ok, i.e., that taking away recess if it is 'just quickly' is acceptable. Other than that, there was no one on the board who voiced support for Recess Academy. It seemed to me that everyone was in agreement that taking away recess was not good – and, indeed, is against policy. • Similarly, all of the board members seemed very open and even eager to have the weigh-in policy reviewed. • It seems it would be beneficial for school board members to make unannounced visits to schools to see how things work on normal days. Stopping by during recess periods might give insight into how Recess Academy is used and/or ensure that it is not being used, as well as give teachers and students the opportunity to communicate with the board. • I am going to attend the School Health Advisory Board meeting tomorrow. I will ask: 1) Now that the issue is highlighted, how is it going to be communicated to teachers that taking away recess, whether it is called Recess Academy or something else, is against policy and cannot be done? 2) What behavior management/discipline tools do teachers have instead of taking away recess? 3) Why were the weigh-ins suspended and will/when will they resume? • I hope that I can be part of the conversation about whether weigh-ins will occur. If they do continue, I will strongly urge that all parents be notified both before children are weighed and be told that they have the option to decline to have their children weighed.