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Policy committee moves to adopt consolidated AED policy, schedules two readings
Summary
The policy committee recommended replacing three existing policies with a single automatic external defibrillator (AED) policy, keeping Good Samaritan protections and setting a first reading for March 10; members asked staff to hold rescission of old policies until the second reading.
The school district27s policy committee recommended adopting a single, consolidated automatic external defibrillator (AED) policy to replace three existing provisions and scheduled two readings beginning March 10.
Committee members said the new draft collapses redundant language and clarifies who may use AEDs in an emergency. Staff explained the association27s draft removes an outdated Department of Safety reporting requirement and emphasizes maintenance, registration and a liability section for nonmedical personnel who act in good faith.
"The first sentence will say the Fort Smith School Board authorizes the use of AEDs in emergency situations warranting its use," a staff member said while working through revision options for the opening paragraph. Members proposed replacing phrasing such as "the board has acquired purchase" with wording referencing the school district27s authorization and specifying superintendent or designee responsibilities for procurement and maintenance.
Several members urged keeping explicit Good Samaritan protection language so that untrained staff are not deterred from helping in emergencies; staff pointed to a section that allows bystanders to act "in good faith" with limited legal exposure. The committee also confirmed that internal endnotes and highlighted text from the New Hampshire School Board Association samples are editorial and will be removed from the final policy language.
Procedurally, the committee agreed to place the consolidated AED policy on the board27s agenda for two readings, with the first reading tentatively set for March 10. Members asked staff to postpone formal rescission of the three replaced policies until after the second reading to avoid procedural confusion.
