Prince George school board adopts policy requiring naloxone in schools

The Prince George County School Board voted May 12 to adopt an amendment to policy JHCD that will allow each school to keep at least two doses of naloxone, the opioid-overdose reversal medication commonly known as Narcan. The change responds to House Bill 732, which the board was told requires elementary and secondary schools to have at least two doses in place by the 2025–26 school year.

Ms. Mulger, a division staff member who presented the amendment, told the board the health department operates a program that can supply up to 10 doses per school at no cost and that the division would execute a memorandum of understanding to arrange provision and training. "So it's an opioid reversal agent. So we would have 2 doses in every school," she said during the discussion.

Board members discussed timing and parental notification. The presenter said the policy includes parent notification within 24 hours if naloxone is administered after an overdose. A board member moved to move the item from discussion to action; the motion was seconded and the board approved the amendment by roll call.

The action now allows the division to finalize an MOU with the health department and place naloxone kits in schools ahead of the 2025–26 school year. The board did not vote on any specific procurement contract during the meeting; staff indicated procurement and training details will follow through administrative implementation and formal memoranda.

Next steps: staff will pursue an MOU with the health department for naloxone supplies and return with any implementing language or operational procedures for the board to review if required.