Board adopts policy updates to strengthen health, safety and discipline procedures

At its meeting the Wyoming County Board of Education approved a package of policy updates covering student health, safety and discipline.

Policy changes included clarifications that parents/guardians retain access to student health records unless blocked by court order and that schools must hold medications with limited exceptions for medically authorized carry items. The student-accidents policy was updated to add a cardiac emergency response-plan provision; administrators said coaches will receive AED/CPR training and portable AEDs are taken to away games where required.

The board also adopted a suicide-prevention policy aligning school response teams, communication protocols and postvention measures. The policy formalizes notification chains (principal to superintendent and educational support teams), recommends shared statements to reduce rumor spread and provides for parent education resources and Jamie Law training required by state law.

A substantive revision to the discipline policy aligns procedures to the West Virginia Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework and PBIS practices. The updated policy emphasizes tiered interventions, functional behavioral assessments and behavior plans intended to keep students engaged in instruction where possible. The district’s alternative-education program and student assistance referral procedures are cited as part of the response continuum.

Finally, the board corrected graduation requirements language to specify that beginning with the relevant cohort students must complete one full credit in personal finance (not a half credit). Officials said the curriculum-adoption committee is finalizing materials.

Speakers (first reference): Mr. Stewart (policy officer), Miss Mitchell (curriculum lead).