The Martinsville City School Board met on June 30 to approve several policy updates aimed at aligning division policies with current Virginia Code requirements and preparing for implementation in the fall.
Callie Hietala, Communications & Community Outreach Coordinator and Clerk of the Board, reviewed the changes, which include updates to crisis emergency management and medical emergency response plans. Schools will now be equipped with opioid antagonists such as Narcan to address overdoses, and a new cardiac arrest drill will be added to safety protocols. Emergency first aid, CPR, and AED-certified personnel requirements were also updated.
Long-term substitutes will now be required to have a long-term instructional plan that could lead to potential licensure. Professional development will be expanded for staff, including training for special education teachers on implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
In another policy change, post-secondary information for special education students will now be shared with higher education institutions, and parents of juniors and seniors will receive notifications about dual enrollment meetings.
A new student athlete heat safety policy will be implemented in support of a statewide initiative to prevent heat-related illness during practice and competition. However, school officials noted that Martinsville schools already follow similar procedures. Additionally, if a student experiences an overdose during school hours or at a school-sponsored activity, a new notification process will be followed.
The board also approved the adoption of new English and math textbooks.
Superintendent Dr. Zebedee Talley was authorized to submit the Elementary and Secondary Education Act application and the Title III application. “That has been very, very successful,” Talley said, emphasizing how Title III funding supports communication with Spanish-speaking families.
The board designated the superintendent and approved authority for personnel assignments. A resolution with the Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA) was also passed to reimburse the division for technology costs. Additionally, the board approved a resolution to join the Virginia Association of Counties Group Self-Insurance Risk Pool.
Recognized at the meeting:
*Rickyah Mitchell-Hairston, for winning the VHSL state championship in the girls’ 100-meter dash.
*Anne Agee, for her service as student representative on the board.
The board next meets on August 11 at 6 p.m.
