Middletown board adopts updated time-out and physical-restraint policy (Policy 7350)

The Enlarged City School District of Middletown Board of Education voted Jan. 16 to adopt a revised policy titled "Time Out and Physical Restraint" (Policy 7350).

The board first voted to waive a second reading of the policy before taking a final vote. The procedural motion to waive additional readings was moved by Mitchell Williams and seconded by Mr. Perino; the board approved that motion 7-0. The subsequent motion to adopt Policy 7350 was moved by Pastor Williams and seconded by Mr. Moore; that motion also passed unanimously, 7-0.

Board committee reports preceding the vote noted the policy had been the subject of recent review by the policy committee and by the district's legal counsel. The policy replaces the district's earlier title and language on emergency intervention and corporal punishment with language organized under "time out and physical restraint," per counsel's recommended edits presented to the board.

During committee remarks, board members described the process used (first reading, committee review and the option to waive a second reading when the board had already had an opportunity to review the proposed language). No substantive amendment to the policy text was offered on the floor at the meeting.

The board recorded unanimous approval on both the waiver and the final adoption vote. The district did not publish the full policy text in the meeting record; the board president said the approved policy would be placed on file with the district clerk.