Policy committee adopts updated suicide-prevention policy after student input

The policy committee of the Stamford Board of Education unanimously approved an updated suicide-prevention policy after adopting several amendments that reflect student input.

The committee's chair moved to bring policy 61 64.2 forward; district staff member Chris told the committee that "our current policy as it exists today is, 25 years old," and recommended adopting a more current K-version as the basis for changes. The draft reflects student feedback from the SHS Milk group, which had also provided suggestions on Title IX education and other topics.

Committee member Mister Hyman said the board could not "give our power away" to students and proposed framing student involvement as consultation. "We can do it in consultation with'we can take input from students, from parents, from building administrators, mental health workers," he said, and the committee adopted language requiring program design "in consultation with students, building administrators, and mental health providers."

The committee also agreed unanimously to add an encouragement that "the board encourages any student who becomes aware of a suicide threat, attempt or ideation to immediately report this information to a trusted staff member." Chris described that change as an encouragement rather than a directive, and said it preserved student safety without imposing a legal duty on students.

After adopting the technical and substantive amendments, the committee voted to pass the policy as amended and the chair said the item will be placed on the full board's consent agenda. The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.