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Board hears new Narcan (naloxone) policy; staff to change wording from “overdose” to “poisoning” and return in 30 days
Summary
Administrators presented a new policy to store and authorize trained staff to administer Narcan at schools, in partnership with a local drug- and alcohol-coalition. The board asked staff to replace the word “overdose” with “poisoning” in policy language; the policy will sit for 30 days before a vote.
The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education on Monday reviewed a proposed district policy to store and authorize staff to administer naloxone (Narcan) in emergencies. The proposal describes a district partnership with a local drug and alcohol coalition to supply Narcan and requires principals to designate trained staff who would keep doses locked for emergency use only.
Why it matters: The policy creates a formal district procedure for Narcan storage and trained administration on campus. Board members framed the issue as both a public-health response and an urgent safety measure given recent local deaths discussed at the meeting.
Key points presented: Miss Savage, presenting the policy, said the district is partnering with "the drug alcohol coalition of Ardel" to receive Narcan supplies and will maintain a list of trained employees at each school. "We are responsible for storing it. We're also responsible for working with the principal to designate one or more staff members to be trained, and to keep Narcan locked or in a place a storage place for emergency use only, and then only the trained employees will be authorized to administer," Miss Savage said.
Board concerns and changes requested: A board member suggested that the policy wording should refer to "poisoning" rather than "overdose" to underscore the seriousness of fentanyl and illicit opioid exposures. "My ask would be is if we would request a change to this policy to change the word overdose to poisoning to really drive home the seriousness," the board member said. Staff indicated no objection to that wording change and said it would be made and the policy returned to the board.
Legal and liability questions: A board member asked whether training authorized staff but not guaranteeing trained personnel at every wing of a school would expose the district to additional liability in the event of a fatality. Counsel and staff said the policy does not create a new legal duty beyond ordinary reasonable care and that while lawsuits are always possible, the policy itself is not intended to impose an absolute guarantee of trained personnel at every location.
Next steps: The policy is new and will "sit for 30 days" before returning for board action. Staff said they will make the requested language change and bring the revised draft back for consideration.
