RSU 40 policy committee endorses revised restraint and seclusion policy

The RSU 40 policy committee on Friday approved a revised restraints and seclusion policy, deciding the draft should be forwarded to the full school board for first and second readings.

Speaker 4, a committee member who presented the revision, said the draft mirrors recent changes in law and incorporates guidance from a September training by Drummond and Woodson. "The law is currently in effect as written in this policy, so all this does is mirror what the changes are in the law," Speaker 4 said.

The presenter said administrators who operate under the policy helped draft the revisions to reduce paperwork and make the standard more practicable for classroom staff. "When I was a principal in 2010, you couldn't even pick up a kindergarten student that was rolling on another kindergarten student because that was considered a restraint," Speaker 4 said, describing how the new language gives staff more scope to keep students safe.

Committee members asked procedural questions about how the document displays deletions and additions; Speaker 4 indicated the accompanying procedure shows strikeouts and insertions so members can clearly see changes. The committee voted 7-0 to accept the revision for forwarding to the board for formal readings.

The committee also agreed the same clear draft format will be used for future policy presentations so members can review strikeouts and additions. The policy and procedure will appear before the full board for first and second readings as required for adoption.