A pair of policy items drew extended debate at the Isle of Wight County School Board meeting. Members agreed to withdraw proposed changes to Policy KK, which would have expanded access protocols for board members and volunteers, and asked the policy committee to redraft and bring a clearer version back for a first read.

Volunteer and access policy (KK): Speaker Theresa Finch raised concerns about proposed language that, in her view, could give board members or volunteers unsupervised access to school spaces without the standard background checks and sign-in procedures required of other volunteers. Finch asked, “Do the responsibilities of board members require or warrant unescorted, unannounced, and continuous access to basically all school spaces?” Board members agreed to pause the proposed revision, instruct the policy committee to rework the language to reflect current practice, and to reissue the item as a first read after committee review.

CPR/first-aid policy (EEBA): The board also debated proposed changes that would tighten requirements for certified responders in schools. Nurse leadership and staff pointed to Project Adam standards and the value of certified personnel; others cautioned that mandating certification for volunteer coaches could be unrealistic because many coaches are part-time or stipended. Board members asked nurse staff to provide clearer, evidence-based recommendations (for example, Project Adam’s 10% staff-certification threshold) and to include an enactment timeline so the division could reach compliance without immediate disruption. Staff agreed to draft revised language that clarifies who must be certified, reasonable timelines, and how the district will track compliance.

Why it matters: These policies govern school access and emergency-response readiness, both of which implicate safety and community trust. The board’s decision to pull Policy KK for more work reflects community concern about unsupervised access; the CPR debate reflects a balance between maximizing on-site emergency skills and the district’s ability to train or recruit certified volunteers and staff.

Next steps: Policy KK will be revised by the policy committee and reissued for public review. For EEBA, nurse leadership will work with staff and the policy committee to return proposed language that uses an evidence-based threshold and an implementation timeline.