Twice per school year, the Thompson School District (TSD) Board of Education holds their regular meeting at Berthoud High School (BHS). The second such meeting of the 2021-22 school year was held at BHS on April 20. The board discussed various matters pertaining to the district, the most notable of which pertained to school staff administering medication to students, including naloxone (commonly known as Narcan and used in the event of an opioid overdose) and medical marijuana. The board also heard the first reading of potential changes to district policy regarding the district’s health education policy.

Current policy allows for the possession and administration of naloxone by School Resource Officers but the board is considering changing the policy to allow it to be stored and administered by other staff members in the event of an overdose. The potential policy change aligns with a law passed allowing the administration of the medication in public schools that was enacted in 2019.

The proposed policy would include training for the staff members who volunteer to become authorized to administer naloxone, in the form of a nasal spray, that would focus on identifying the signs of an individual – student, staff member or guest – experiencing an overdose and how to properly administer the naloxone.

Another proposed policy change would allow for the storage and administration of medical cannabis on school grounds. Prior policy allowed each school’s principal to make the decision for his or her school, however, on May 5, 2021, Governor Jared Polis (D) signed legislation to expand access to medical marijuana for students in public schools. The law required school boards to develop policies for the storage of cannabis medicines and for allowing staff to administer the medicine to qualifying students, according to the information presented to the board.

The board also listened to a presentation from TSD Chief Academic Officer Dawne Huckaby regarding some possible changes to health and wellness education including family life/sex education. The TSD and the board engaged in listening sessions with district parents and others to solict feedback for potential policy changes.

The information presented to the board read, in part, “The Board further believes that the district’s comprehensive health education program should provide information about family life and sex education. While parents have the prime responsibility to assist their children in developing moral values, the district supports these efforts by offering students information regarding positive and healthy choices related to family life and sexual behavior.

The district will teach about family life and sex education in regular courses on anatomy, physiology, science, health, or consumer and family studies. If a separate family life or sex education program is developed, it will not be required. Any curriculum that includes instruction on human sexuality will be in accordance with applicable law and Colorado academic standards.”

The board was scheduled to discuss the policy changes outlined in this story at the May 4 meeting which took place after press deadline. The Surveyor will provide further coverage on these and topics related to the TSD Board actions in future editions.