Policy committee recommends repeal of Ridgefield student safety policy 5142

Kristina Moore, chair of the Ridgefield Board of Education policy committee, said the committee will recommend that the full board repeal Policy 5142, a student safety policy adopted in December 2011, after legal counsel advised the policy is not legally required.

"Shipman and Goodwin audit feedback is that the policy is not required, and so they recommend repeal," Moore said. Superintendent Dr. DaSilva told the committee the policy largely describes routine school practices rather than legal obligations and that maintaining non‑required policies can create conflicts with current law or administrative practice.

Committee members, including co‑chair John Paradiso, described the language as operational and supported the recommendation to bring the repeal to the full board for a first reading. The committee did not adopt new operational requirements in place of the policy; Dr. DaSilva said implementation details are handled by administration and by school handbooks.

The committee will present the repeal recommendation at the full board's first read on Monday, Sept. 28.