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Timberlane staff outline Youth Risk Behavior Survey plans; emphasize confidentiality and grant opportunities
Summary
District staff presented the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) plan for middle and high schools, said participation is voluntary and confidential, and described how the results guide prevention programs and grant applications.
District staff presented the plan to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) at both Timberlane middle and high schools and explained how the data would be used to guide prevention programming, identify community needs, and support grant applications.
Presenters included Tim Lina (assistant student assistance counselor) and Mark Pasquini (health and physical education teacher). They reminded the board the district previously administered the YRBS in 2001 and 2011; results then led to federal and state grants, including an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant and a decade of drug-free communities support in their region. Staff said the YRBS yields evidence the district and community partners use to design environmental strategies (examples given: retailer "sticker shock" campaigns and targeted prevention curricula) and to identify emerging risks such as vaping and high-potency THC products.
Officials stressed the survey is voluntary and highly confidential: no names or identifying demographic fields are collected and results are aggregated before release. Parents will be notified and have the option to opt a child out; state-provided parent-facing materials and a public review window will be used to inform families. The district noted the high school version of the YRBS is available at no cost and that the middle-school version carries a $4,000 administration fee; administrators said they expect to pursue external funding to support the middle-school administration in future years.
Board members and community participants asked about accuracy of self-reporting, how data would be released and framed for different audiences, and whether social media and cyberbullying were included. Staff said research supports the reliability of anonymous self-reporting when anonymity is preserved and noted the survey covers a broad set of topics beyond substance use (social media, sexual activity, bullying, mental-health indicators). Presenters said the district intends to use normative education strategies when reporting to students and targeted messaging for parents and community partners.
No board action was required; staff will proceed with parent-notification processes and scheduling for the administration window, and will return with results and recommendations once data are available.
