Board reviews extensive VSBA policy updates; several items moved toward action agenda

The Manassas City School Board’s policy committee presented a large package of Virginia School Boards Association model-policy updates and related local modifications and asked the full board for guidance on several items.

Policy Chair Stevens summarized the committee’s review, noting the VSBA updates included emergency management (adding athletic emergency action plans, bleeding-control and cardiac arrest protocols), expanded language on communication after threat assessments, and new material on first aid, CPR and AED certification. "The VSBA added additional language and now includes an athletic emergency action plan, bleeding control program, and cardiac arrest plan," Stevens said.

Other model changes raised by the committee include: - Opioid response: a proposed policy to permit school employees to administer an opioid antagonist in suspected overdoses (the committee has addressed this as a regulation and said a separate policy may not be needed) and a policy (IGAG) requiring overdose-prevention instruction in secondary schools. - Sudden cardiac arrest drills: new language requiring bleeding-control kits during emergency drills (EB C B). - Weapons (GBEB): expanded language to prohibit weapons at any school-sponsored events. - Felony-employment language (GCDA‑M and DJF): new state law allows people whose rights have been restored to be employed by or contracted with public schools in some cases; the committee flagged the need to align local policy language, including discussion about limiting eligibility to certain offenses (for example, crimes of moral turpitude) and requirements such as a 20-year window and gubernatorial restoration of rights. - Substitute-teacher age (GC E‑M): the model differs from the division’s modified policy, which currently requires substitutes to be 21 rather than 18. - Professional development (GCL): new model language limits required nonacademic training to 25 hours over five years and adds optional autism-specific training guidance. - Students with disabilities (IGBA): IEPs must address accommodations/supports needed during emergencies and include transition discussions for dual-enrollment rights before 11th/12th grade. - Advanced math (IGBJ): new model requires automatic enrollment in accelerated math for grades 5–8 when students score in approximately the top quintile statewide, subject to guardian opt-out. - Cell phones and devices (JFCCM): the VSBA model would move detailed device rules into regulation; the committee discussed how the local policy and regulation would interact. - Student records and device access (JO, JF C/ JF CE, JRCA): updates on redacting foster-parent addresses and clarifying school-division access to school-issued devices. - Commercial partnerships (KQ): model language requires sponsors to show employees who have direct contact with students are legally permitted to do so.

Stevens said the committee will bring several of the updated or new policies to the action agenda so the full board can deliberate; items judged minor would appear on the consent agenda. The board also agreed staff will continue to review regulatory text (GCBD‑R) related to leave communications between administrators and staff.

Board members pressed for clarification on the felony-employment language, noting the new state law generally applies to convictions older than 20 years and to crimes of moral turpitude, not all felonies. "I wanted to clarify that it’s not all felons," one member said, and the committee recommended further discussion to determine whether the board should retain stricter local language or adopt the VSBA model’s permissive wording.

No policy changes were adopted during the meeting; the committee’s recommendations will appear on a future action agenda for full board votes.