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Parent urges Hutto ISD to stop withholding recess as punishment
Summary
At the board workshop, Amber Alesso urged trustees to stop using recess removal as punishment and asked the district to consider moving recess before lunch and to follow up on SHAC policy guidance.
Amber Alesso, a parent who spoke during public comment, told the board she is concerned that Ray Elementary students are having recess withheld as a form of punishment and that youth often do not understand why they are missing playtime.
"Recess should never be withheld for academic or punitive reasons," Alesso said, citing American Academy of Pediatrics guidance and sharing a packet of supporting materials. She suggested the district pilot moving recess before lunch on a test campus, saying the research she collected shows it can reduce food waste and improve behavioral outcomes.
Board President Legutis asked Miss Netherland to "follow up with our SHAC policy requirements on this and get back with Miss Alesso," signaling that staff will provide a policy-level response and more information to the speaker.
The comment highlighted two distinct requests: that campuses stop withholding supervised unstructured play as a punitive measure and that the district consider a scheduling trial (recess before lunch) to test whether research findings apply locally. The board did not take action at the workshop; the president directed staff to report back.
