Policy committee directs public posting of multiple policy updates including concussion baseline and health-monitoring changes

The East Stroudsburg Area School District policy committee voted May 18 to authorize administration to post a group of policy revisions for public review during May, with the full board expected to consider the items in June. The package covers reassignment of compliance officers and several substantive student health and district operations changes.

Committee members and staff said the proposed edits reassign titles and compliance duties across multiple policies, naming the assistant superintendent for district programs as the district compliance officer in several policies and the executive director of human resources as the district Title IX coordinator and open records officer. "Policy 103 is adding executive director and striking communications and operations out and adding human resources," a staff member said while reading the draft language.

Among the more substantive program changes, Policy 123.1 would require student athletes to have a complete, valid IMPACT baseline concussion test before the start of the athletic season. The draft policy text read, "Student athletes in grades seven and eight will take the baseline annually. Student athletes beginning in nine, grade 9 will take the baseline annually," and staff said the initiative was requested by the athletic trainer, Dr. Rossi, to aid concussion protocol when a baseline is lacking. Committee discussion later referenced an alternate proposal that ninth-graders be tested twice a year; staff and members agreed the district would assume responsibility for administering baselines and that the athletic department should perform testing.

Policy 209 clarifies the distinction between screenings and comprehensive physical examinations, adds a health-monitoring provision directing staff to implement monitoring in accordance with board policy and the approved health and safety plan, and establishes a process for students to request religious accommodation for monitoring methods. The policy text also states that refusals of required exams that result in safety risks may be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and other appropriate authorities.

Transportation policy 810 was revised to state that, although Act 124 was established for diesel-powered vehicles, the district will apply the diesel idling limits to district propane buses as well (five minutes without student passengers; up to 15 minutes maximum with student passengers aboard) to promote consistent fleet standards, staff said.

Policy 815 would allow the district website to share information about curriculum, programs, school activities and local community events. Committee members asked staff to clarify that posted events should be limited to local nonprofit organizations and to enumerate link guidelines in the policy to avoid cross-references that are hard for the public to find.

At the meeting’s close the chair moved to "authorize and direct the administration to post the following items, policies ... for public review during the month of May and subsequent board action in June." The motion received a second and the committee voted in favor; vocal assent from the four members present was recorded. The meeting adjourned after the vote.

The posted draft policies and any public comments will be available during the public-review period; the board is scheduled to take action on the proposals in June.