Board adopts building-level emergency plans to comply with 'Desch's Law'; district to file by Oct. 1

The Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education voted to adopt amended building-level emergency response plans to comply with Desch’s Law, new state legislation requiring explicit cardiac emergency response procedures in school emergency plans.

Maria, the district personnel administrator, told the board the law — prompted by the in-school cardiac arrest of a student named Dasha Sanders — requires that building-level plans “embed” cardiac emergency response protocols. Maria explained that embedment means identifying unlocked AEDs, assigning trained responders, and specifying who will respond and how, rather than simply referencing the device in a general plan.

Board members were told the governor signed Desch’s Law on July 24 and that building-level plans must be uploaded to the state portal by Oct. 1. Maria said the district will return to the board in January to adopt the district-wide school safety plan after a 30-day public comment period; she also said the board will readopt the plan annually in June per existing practice.

The board recorded approval of the amended building-level plans during the meeting (agenda item 6.30). District staff said the adoption tonight enables the district to meet the immediate statutory requirement and to submit the building-level plans into the state portal ahead of the deadline.

Maria noted the district will continue work on the district-wide plan and outlined next steps for public comment and January board consideration.

Action recorded: board approval of amended building-level emergency response plans (agenda 6.30); staff to upload plans to state portal prior to Oct. 1 and return to the board in January for the district-wide plan.