SAD 1 board updates, changes school policies

PRESQUE ISLE – An updated district policy that changes the way school officials administer medicine to students and which initially drew concern from SAD 1 board members was one of several policies the board approved during its Wednesday night meeting.

The district’s director of health services, registered nurse Deanie Schilosky, presented the updated “Administering Medicines to Students” policy, explaining that it has not needed revising since 1994. Schilosky said she reviewed Maine education and school statutes, Department of Education guidelines and Maine State Board of Nursing rules in conducting the revision.

The new policy addresses the need for “anything given at school” to be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It also discusses the training of unlicensed personnel and the administering of medications on field trips. The change states that medication administered on field trips will be given only by trained school employees and that there will be a trained employee on every district field trip.

The policy now also requires the need for both a parent request and health care provider’s order to administer medications at school. Under new Department of Education rules, Schilosky said, the district must receive parental permission as well as a medical order from a physician to administer medication.

The change drew questions from board members, who wondered whether students would be allowed to bring cough drops to school or whether students would be able to take headache or cough medicine without a doctor’s orders.

Schilosky reiterated that school officials cannot administer any medication without both parental and physician permission, nor can students carry and self-administer prescriptions or over-the-counter medication. She added that students will be allowed to possess and self-administer emergency medications such as asthma inhalers or epinephrine auto-injectors.

When school board members expressed surprise at the need for a physician’s order for over-the-counter medication, some asked if their only option was to take their children off school grounds in order to give them medicine.

Schilosky explained that parents – but not school officials – have the right to administer medication to their children on school grounds without a doctor’s approval.

School board members later approved the updated policy.

District officials passed four other policies, including those on:

. Accountability in reporting to the public.

. Parent involvement in education, a copy of which will be sent to parents in the fall.

. Basic instructional program.

. Student achievement and evaluation of student achievement.

In other news, the school board:

. Recognized six district employees who are retiring this year. Board Chairwoman Lucy Richard pointed out that the employees’ combined years of service added up to 190 years. The board recognized: Carmen Wiggins, 22 years, who served at the Pine Street cafeteria; Pat Grant, 29 years, Presque Isle High School; Steve Vance, 33 years, district director of technology; Penny Rand, 34 years, Cunningham Middle School; Peggy Gudreau, 30 years, Mapleton Elementary School special education; and Rena Kearney, 42 years, Pine Street Elementary School.

. Considered and approved three staff appointments. The board named James York to serve in a one-year position as a social studies teacher at Presque Isle High School. York will replace a teacher on sabbatical. It approved Casey Robbins as a special education teacher at Presque Isle Middle School. They also approved the hire of Jane Madore as a special education teacher at the high school.

. Received an update from the chairman of the building and grounds committee. According to Paul Saija, construction is running behind schedule, mostly because of Department of Transportation road postings in the spring that prevented trucks from bringing gravel to the construction area for site work. School officials approved the contractor’s request for a three-week extension, though they said that the building must be ready by the Aug. 16 deadline.

The board will hold its summer meetings at 7 p.m. July 20 and Aug. 10.