Board reviews districtwide safety plan changes under new "Desha's Law" requiring AED accessibility

The Rockville Centre Union Free School District board heard a public hearing Nov. 6 on updates to the districtwide safety plan driven by a new state law known in the transcript as "Desha's Law." David, the district director of security, told the board the law was prompted by an incident in which an AED was not accessible and that compliance requires accessible AEDs and a cadre of trained personnel.

District officials reported the district has 27 automated external defibrillators districtwide: seven at the high school, five at the middle school and the remainder distributed among elementary schools according to building size. Staff told the board all school nurses are trained and that volunteer staff have received instruction in AED use. The presentation was offered as part of the required public notice and hearing; no public comments were made about the plan at the hearing.

Why it matters: The law establishes minimum accessibility and training expectations for school AEDs; the board reviewed the plan and invited questions but did not take a vote at the hearing. Administrators said the changes must be instituted by Jan. 20 (as stated in the presentation).

Board discussion was limited; the director confirmed that the district is training nurses and volunteers and has identified AED locations by school. No formal action was recorded during the hearing.