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Narcan Policies Approved
The reality of the opioid epidemic has struck the nation, and Virginia schools are responding by adopting updated policies that will allow schools to stock and administer Naloxone, or Narcan – a medicine that reverses the effects of opioids and stops an overdose.
At its meeting April 11, the Rockbridge County School Board joined other school systems in adopting those policies.
Last month, district administrators underwent training from the Virginia Department of Health to learn how to administer Naloxone in the event of an opioid overdose at one of the schools.
Special Education Plans Explained
With the onset of every new academic year, the director of special education develops an annual plan to strengthen the district’s special education program. This year, Rockbridge County Public Schools’ new director, Ashley Rhodenizer, explained how the program has been working towards meeting goals for 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 academic years.
The first two years were focused on training and retaining staff and adjusting to new learning laws and catering to mental health. Mental health and safety has become a target of the special education program following the pandemic, Rhodenizer told the School Board April 11.
The 2022-2023 annual plan for the program catered to the needs of students. Rhodenizer explained that she worked with her teachers to align and identify specially designed instruction. “We are improving achievement for students with disabilities by strengthening that specially designed instruction and co-teaching,” Rhodenizer said.
They also focused on social and emotional support for students and staff. RCPS special education is now encouraging the program’s teachers to recognize when they are struggling and practice ways to maintain composure in high-stress classroom situations, Rhodenizer said.
For students, she is working on creating sensory and “calm down” corners for students to use when they are struggling in the classroom. These designated spaces in the room, decorated with posters teaching productive breathing methods, are also designed so that “students can learn how to regulate themselves,” Rhodenizer explained.
