Committee sends life‑threatening allergies policy to policy subcommittee with amendments

The Medford School Committee voted to send a new draft policy titled Management of Life‑Threatening Allergies to the Rules & Policy subcommittee for further work and stakeholder input. The motion, offered by Member Reinfeld and seconded by Member Russo, also requested subcommittee invitations to coaches, PTO representatives and others and added the explicit inclusion of staff in the policy statement. The motion passed 7‑0.

Director of Nursing Jen Silva explained the 24‑page draft was structured to identify responsibilities for each stakeholder (nurses, principals, paraeducators, PTOs and others) and to align with national best practices, the Centers for Disease Control recommendations and state guidance. Silva said much of the content describes existing protocols and that the document is intentionally detailed so school employees can find the role‑specific guidance they need quickly.

Committee members raised implementation concerns including how the policy would apply to PTO activities, whether the policy language creates enforceability issues for outside volunteers, and whether some parts are protocol (operational guidance) rather than policy. Parents and an advocate in public comment urged broad training and clarity, noting that prompt administration of epinephrine can be life‑saving and that some staff remain uncomfortable administering injections.

Member Reinfeld said the subcommittee process should allow the district to clarify policy versus procedure, invite relevant stakeholders, and ensure any new responsibilities are reviewed against bargaining agreements and job descriptions. The administration and committee said protocols and one‑page resources could be distributed quickly while the policy is refined in subcommittee.