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District details safety protocols and legal limits on restraints at Swayze Central
Summary
District student‑services staff and administrators reviewed RSA 126‑U and district policy JKAA, described a seven‑member crisis response team trained in CPI holds, and emphasized the requirement to document any physical intervention within 24 hours.
District student‑services staff reviewed how Swayze Central School responds when students escalate, citing state and district rules that limit when staff may use holds and how incidents must be documented.
Dr. Renee Bennett explained that New Hampshire’s RSA 126‑U tightened rules on restraint and seclusion and that the district adopted policy JKAA to align with the law. She said the building identifies a crisis response team of staff trained at the highest tier (CPI), that the district has in‑house trainers and a board‑certified behavior analyst (BCBA) who supports functional behavior assessments and behavior plans, and that staff receive de‑escalation training each year.
Bennett emphasized escalation procedures: staff should radio for the crisis team, who are trained to use safety holds only when required; if a hold occurs, there is required legal documentation and a 24‑hour reporting timeframe. She said Swayze currently has seven Tier‑3 certified staff assigned to the crisis team for the building and that the ratio is appropriate for the school’s incident history.
Board members asked how training is conducted, whether staff may suggest policy tweaks from a day‑to‑day standpoint, and how the district compares to other schools. Principal Ron said building teams meet weekly to review behavior plans and that plans are tweaked when needed. Bennett and administrators said policies and procedures are publicly posted and that staff sign off on the staff manual and expectations.
What happens next: the board accepted the review and asked administration to continue providing documentation and to report back on any policy adjustments; it also agreed to bring union feedback to the policy committee when suggested changes are proposed.
