Board adopts strategic plan; first reading advances policy changes including naloxone and curriculum transparency

The Old Saybrook Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a codified strategic plan, a document board members said will guide course approvals, budget priorities and public outreach.

During the meeting a motion was made, seconded and approved to adopt the plan as presented; the superintendent and other staff said the plan will be used to prioritize course additions at the high school and to align the FY27 budget with district goals.

Policy committee chair Mary Key led a first reading of 16 policy revisions driven by statutory and federal changes. Highlights the committee called out include: authorization for a limited preliminary inquiry into reports of suspected child abuse before a formal report to the Department of Children and Families; a new reporting requirement for non‑lapsing accounts to the state and bargaining representatives; expanded parental curricular‑exemption rules for topics claimed to burden religious upbringing; extension of paid family and medical leave coverage to additional employee categories; and changes to medication administration policies to permit non‑injectable forms of epinephrine and glucagon where appropriate.

The committee also recommended adding naloxone to the list of medications staff may administer in emergencies; Mary Key said school nurses and school resource officers already maintain naloxone and adding it to policy clarifies procedure. The committee noted some of the changes will carry implementation costs or training needs and will return for a second reading and final vote.

Board members asked how policy updates will be communicated to staff and the community; administration said policies will be distributed to staff, posted online, and highlighted in staff meetings where changes affect practice. The board also discussed ways to package and present the strategic plan and budget materials to parent groups, PTOs and at the town’s Board of Finance presentation.

Administrative motions at the meeting included approval of two sets of minutes and a staff leave of absence; all passed unanimously. The board also reviewed a proposed shared Google Drive for board materials to centralize packets, committee folders and archives.

What’s next: policy changes will come back for a second reading; administration will provide additional details requested by the board and the medical director will be asked to review medication‑administration language.