Henrico School Board approves revised 2023-24 calendar, new student-athlete health policies
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Henrico School Board members unanimously approved policies targeting the health of student-athletes and changing the 2023-2024 calendar during their monthly meeting Feb. 23.
Members voted to approve two new policies regarding the health of student-athletes. One policy, “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention,” requires that school divisions develop and update procedures about identifying and handling symptoms that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest. The policy is modeled after guidelines adopted this fall by the Virginia Board of Education.
During the public comment period, one speaker said that the division should mandate coaches carry portable automated external defibrillators, funded by the athletic department. She said she had unsuccessfully tried to have protocols related to heart health at a local middle school revised about six years ago.
Another policy concerned updating procedures about identifying and managing heat-related illness, abiding by guidelines from the Virginia Department of Education.
Members also voted to retire one policy about student-athletes who get concussions so that all management information is available in another existing policy.
In addition to policies affecting student-athletes, the board approved a new calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Along with previously planned adjustments discussed earlier this month, a student holiday was moved to Oct. 9 from Oct. 13 following requests by some board members.
