Accomack board reviews sweeping VSBA policy updates tied to Virginia law, including emergency response and opioid antagonist rules

The Accomack County School Board reviewed dozens of model policy updates from the Virginia School Boards Association that reflect changes in state law effective July 1, including new requirements on emergency response, opioid antagonists, and contracting.

Central office staff summarized major items: each school must adopt cardiac emergency response or athletic emergency action plans, place and maintain bleeding control kits (to be located beside AEDs) and conduct annual drills; opioid antagonist (Naloxone/Narcan) procurement, placement, inspection and recordkeeping must be established and at least one employee trained per school to administer the antagonist; and threat assessment teams are to meet monthly and include counseling, administration, instruction, and law enforcement representatives.

Several policies clarify contractor screening and hiring: model language allows limited exceptions to hiring prohibitions for individuals with certain felony convictions only if stringent conditions are met (restoration of civil rights, completion of supervision, a documented record of rehabilitation and a written board certification). The policy package also requires that contracts for goods or services exceeding $10,000 include prohibitions on forced or indentured child labor.

Board members were advised that many of the VSBA model policies are legally driven and leave limited local discretion, though some items provide options that require the board to select a preferred approach. The board will receive formal readings and votes at future meetings to adopt the specific language for the division.

Staff also noted changes to background‑check cost options for applicants (the packet included three options: applicant pays, school board pays, or cost split), guidance on substitute and long‑term substitute qualifications, and updated language on student records, telehealth, heat‑related protections for athletics, and acceptable computer‑use legal references.

Board members asked for time to review the redline documents and to have departments prepare recommended local choices for policies that include options. The central office indicated it will bring selected drafts back for the required first and second readings and for formal board adoption.