District staff gave an update on physical education on Oct. 16 that highlighted expanded central support for P.E. teachers, program evaluation data and a first reading of proposed revisions to Board Policy 61 42.7 and accompanying administrative regulations.

Mikaela Fetzer, who said she supports P.E. across the district, described a new full-time physical education content specialist position carried out by Heather Deckard and a district P.E. website with scripted modules, Google Classroom resources, and a lending inventory of equipment for sites. Deckard (presented in the update) described coaching new and veteran P.E. teachers on routines, use of whiteboards for vocabulary and agendas, and strategies for structuring large outdoor spaces.

Staff reviewed California’s physical fitness testing (grades 3–12) and said the district aims for 80% or greater participation rates at representative schools. Administrators also described required instructional minutes: transitional kindergarten and kindergarten are exempt from minute mandates; elementary teachers are expected to integrate activity into classroom instruction; and secondary students must receive 400 minutes of physical education every 10 school days.

The presentation said the policy and regulation revisions are necessary to resolve a 2022 federal program-monitoring finding and to include required Education Code language and citations. Staff asked the board to consider the revisions in a subsequent meeting where policy changes will be agendized for adoption.

Board members thanked staff for the emphasis on program coherence and asked for further detail on participation barriers such as student dress code concerns and ways to expand non-P.E. opportunities (for example, after-school or community programs) that still support physical activity.

No vote was taken on the first reading; the item was presented for review and scheduled for future action.