Advisory Committees

The American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) serves in an advisory role to the school district and helps ensure that American Indian students are receiving culturally relevant and equitable educational opportunities. The committee is a valuable component in the pursuit of achievement and success for American Indian students districtwide. Contact:  American Indian Cultural Liaison, Nell Barri.

The Chemical Health Advisory Board works to build awareness of issues within the community, identify available resources for students, and develop good working relationships and enhance communication between the schools and other community agencies and more. 

The school and community advisory team must be composed of representatives from the school pre-assessment team established in section 126.034, to the extent possible, law enforcement agencies, county attorney’s office, social service agencies, chemical abuse treatment programs, parents, and the business community. The community advisory team shall:

• Build awareness of the problem within the community, identify available treatment and counseling programs for students, and develop good working relationships and enhance communication between the schools and other community agencies
• Develop a written procedure clarifying the notification process to be used by the chemical abuse pre-assessment team established under section 126.034 when a student is believed to be in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance (The procedure must include contact with the student, and the student’s parents or guardian in the case of a minor student.)

Contact: Ann Lindberg, Chemical Health Coordinator

The School District 197 Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) works with the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department to respond to curriculum updates, student achievement reports, and instructional material recommendations. Members also learn about and discuss curricular areas under review. The group is made up of district administrators, parent representatives, and at-large community members. Contact: Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 

Curriculum Advisory Committee Overview

PURPOSE
The CAC is designed to involve students, parents or guardians, and community members in decisions regarding implementation of the Minnesota Academic Standards and high academic achievement for all students. The role of the committee is to provide input and advice by making recommendations. The members of CAC include an equal mix of district parents, community representatives and school staff. The group meets four times a year.

2023 - 2024 Meeting Dates and Times

• September 11, 2023 (Special OPTIONAL Session from 5:00 - 6:00 PM reviewing our district's World's Best Workforce Report).
• October 9, 2023 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 PM)
• January 29, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 PM)
• March 11, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 PM)
• May 13, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 PM)

Click here for our 2023 - 2024 list of members.

School District 197 Career and Technical Advisory Committee Overview

2023 - 2024 Meeting Dates

November 21, 2023 (4:00 - 5:30 PM - District Office)
May 14, 2024 (4:00 - 5:30 PM - District Office)

For more information or to get involved contact Miles Lawson at miles.lawson@isd197.org or 651-403-7025. 

Role

The role of the District 197 Equity Advisory is to advise district administration in matters related to equity, especially as they relate to the work of the Strategic Framework. Specifically, the Equity Advisory will provide input and feedback on the broad outcomes for the Equity Focus Area of the Strategic Framework as well as goals and metrics of equity-related action plans.  Further, the Equity Advisory will receive regular updates on the progress of the equity action plans.

Who is involved?

• Started with application process, seeking a diverse group: race, gender, sexuality, school, and more
• Mix of students, family members, and staff
• Approximately 20 members total

When are meetings?
Started every other month, moving to monthly meetings in 2022-2023
In the evening, 6:00-7:30 p.m., moving to two hour meetings in 2022-2023

Contact: Kevin Sheridan, Educational Equity Coordinator and Peter Mau, Assistant Superintendent

MISSION 
Promote and enhance the goals and objectives of Gifted Education programming. Build positive partnerships among schools, teachers, gifted education staff, administration, parents, and the community to support current gifted education services and to advocate for future programming needs. 

2023 - 2024 Meeting Dates and Times

• September 11, 2023 (Special OPTIONAL Session from 5:00 - 6:00 PM reviewing our district's World's Best Workforce Report).
• Monday October 9, 2023 (District Office Conference Room, 5:15 - 6:45 PM)
• November 6, 2023 (District Office Conference Room, 5:15 - 6:45 PM)
• January 29, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 5:15 - 6:45 PM)
• March 11, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 5:15 - 6:45 PM)
• May 13, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 5:15 - 6:45 PM)

Click here for our 2023 - 2024 list of members.

Members of the Parent Ambassador Network are currently serving on their school's PTA, PTO, or Booster organization and meet monthly to advise the superintendent on issues and share ideas.

Each school in the district has a parent-led committee to advise the principal, organize community-building activities, raise funds for special initiatives, volunteer within the classroom, and more. Contact your child's school for more information on becoming involved in their school-based parent group.

SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (SHAC)
The School Health Advisory Council was established in 2015 to provide opportunities, facilitate collaboration, and promote communication among the district, community and parents/guardians in order to ensure high quality health programs in every school. Contact: Stacie O'Leary, Health Services Coordinator

VISION
Coordination of health professionals, community and school members that actively work on ensuring, healthy and safe learning environments for all students. 

MISSION
To provide a healthy and safe environment where all students achieve their personal goals and academic potential by maintaining healthy attitudes and behaviors. 

Components of the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community (WSCC)

• Health Education – Formal, structured health education with qualified, trained teachers, students acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need for making health-promoting decisions.
• Nutrition Environment and Services – (Wellness committee focus) - District supports a healthy school nutrition environment by providing and promoting healthier foods and beverages.
• Employee Wellness – (Wellness committee focus) Staff serve as powerful role models for students and may increase their attention to students’ health. Schools can create work environments that support healthy eating, adopt active lifestyles, be tobacco free, manage stress, and avoid injury and exposure to hazards. 
• Social and Emotional School Climate – The social and emotional climate of a school can impact student engagement in school activities; relationships with other students, staff, family, and community; academic performance, social and emotional development. 
• Physical Environment – A school’s physical condition during normal operation as well as during renovation with the goal to protect occupants from physical threats (e.g., crime, violence, traffic, and injuries) and biological and chemical agents in the air, water, or soil as well as those purposefully brought into the school (e.g., pollution, mold, hazardous materials, pesticides, and cleaning agents).
• Health Services – School health services intervene with actual and potential health problems, including wellness promotion, and parent education.  Health staff collaborate with school staff, students, families, community and healthcare providers. 
• Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services –  Prevention and intervention services support the mental, behavioral, and social-emotional health of students and promote success in the learning process. 
• Community Involvement - Community groups, organizations, and local businesses create partnerships with schools, share resources, and volunteer to support student learning, development, and health-related activities. 
• Family Engagement – School staff are committed to making families feel welcomed, engaging families in a variety of meaningful ways, and sustaining family engagement should be continuous across a child’s life and requires an ongoing commitment as children mature into young adulthood.
• Physical Education and Physical Activity – Students to be physically active throughout the school day. five components: physical education, physical activity during school, physical activity before and after school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.

LINKS
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Center for Disease Control (CDC)

To increase the involvement of parents of children with disabilities in making recommendations regarding special education policies and programs, School District 197 organizes a Special Education Advisory Committee. The council exists to provide recommendations, not to govern.
Contact: Sara Lein, Director of Special Education

Special Education Advisory Overview 

MISSION
The purpose of the SEAC is to promote cooperation, support, and communication among special education students, families, school and community to enable students to reach their full potential.

PURPOSE

• Advise the District 197 Director of Special Programs
• Facilitate communication between parents, students and the community
• Enhance the transition process for all students with special needs from the time they enter our program until graduation

 2020 -2021 SEAC Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 9 2021 (Google Meet meeting)

The Wellness Committee strives to improve student and staff nutrition and physical activity districtwide. Many of the achievements of the District 197 Wellness Committee can be found here. This committee is made up of parents, teachers, administrators, community members and students. If you are interested in participating with the District Wellness Committee, please contact one of the committee co-chairs.

Meghan Bernard, Co Chair: meghan.bernard@isd197.org
Stacie O'Leary, Co Chair: stacie.oleary@isd197.org
Jeff Wolfer, Coordinator: jeff.wolfer@isd197.org

WELLNESS CHAMPIONS

WELLNESS PARTNERS
Minnesota Department of Education
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Advantage Health
Dakota County Public Health
University of Minnesota Extension
YMCA Twin Cities