Starpoint board opens 30-day public comment on districtwide safety plan; first steps toward Narcan policy discussed

The Starpoint Central School District Board of Education on Thursday opened a 30-day public comment period on its districtwide safety plan and heard staff say the district is beginning work on a separate policy to allow naloxone to be available in school buildings.

The district will post the districtwide safety plan online and accept public comments from July 1, 2025, through Aug. 1, 2025, the board approved. The plan, staff said, lays out the districtwide framework for emergency response, contacts and coordination with outside agencies and is distinct from building-level plans that describe actions for specific incidents.

Director of health, physical education and athletics Kevin Deloso said the districtwide plan is “more of a general document” that will be posted on the website and that building-specific plans remain the operational guides during incidents. “Those people who use the school on a regular basis outside,” he said, can submit comments by email to the district or a board member during the 30-day period.

Deloso also told the board that school nurses and district leaders are pursuing options to have naloxone (Narcan) available in schools. The district is exploring three paths: registering the district as a standalone Narcan provider under New York State processes, working with a third-party program approved by the New York State Department of Health, or another administrative route. “We want to be able to be the in-between to support that,” Deloso said, adding that the district will consult school attorneys and the state health department on implementation.

Deloso said nurses favor having naloxone available to reduce response time while awaiting emergency medical services. He said districts in the region already use mounted naloxone boxes near AEDs and that some county health departments will replenish stock and exchange expired doses. He said training and a board-approved policy will be required before naloxone is placed in district buildings.

The board approved a resolution to open the 30-day comment window. Staff said any suggested changes received during that period would be incorporated and the board will consider the final districtwide safety plan at its August meeting so the plan can meet the expected posting deadline.

Board members and staff urged the public to review the plan and submit written comments during the comment window; contact instructions will be posted with the plan on the district website.