Fairfield Union school leaders present Narcan placement and acceleration policy changes on first reading

Superintendent Mister Belleville told the Fairfield Union Local board on Feb. 2 that the district is presenting five state-mandated policy revisions on first reading, following guidance from the Ohio School Boards Association. He said one policy will be updated to specify where and how much opioid-reversal medication (Narcan) is kept in district buildings and on buses.

“We're just now required by law to state where we keep those drugs and and how much of the drugs we have on hand,” Belleville said, and credited Miss Pike and Miss Thompson and the health department for ensuring Narcan is available in all buildings and on school buses. He said staff will update the policy before a final vote so the board knows the exact locations and quantities.

Belleville also described a separate, simplified acceleration policy on first reading that was revised to follow OSBA recommendations. He warned of pending legislation in Columbus that could require automatic acceleration in math for any student who scores “advanced” or “accelerated” on state testing, potentially pushing seventh graders into Algebra I or eighth graders into geometry. “I don't know that I agree with that philosophy,” Belleville said, and told the board the district will monitor any change before updating procedures.

Because both items are on first reading, the board did not take final votes on the policy revisions on Feb. 2. Belleville urged board members to submit questions ahead of the next meeting and said staff will provide a revised policy that lists exact Narcan locations prior to final action.