2023 8210
Instruction
SUBJECT: SAFETY CONDITIONS AND PREVENTION INSTRUCTION
The practice of safety will be considered an integral part of a well-rounded education. A well-rounded education contributes to student success. The District will strive to provide students with an education that will enable them to achieve and maintain a safe life.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Instruction in Health Education
As part of its health education program, the District will provide appropriate instruction for all students concerning Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Accurate information concerning the nature of the disease, methods of transmission, and means of prevention will be provided in an age-appropriate manner, will be consistent with community values, and will stress that abstinence is the most appropriate and effective premarital protection against AIDS.
A representative community advisory group consisting of appropriate school personnel, Board members, parents, religious representatives, and other community members will be established in order to make recommendations for curriculum content, implementation, and evaluation of an AIDS
instructional program. The Board will determine the content of the curriculum, approve its implementation, and be responsible for the evaluation of the District’s AIDS instruction program.
Appropriate training will be provided for instructional staff. Instructional materials will be provided to parents who request these materials.
No student will be required to receive instruction concerning the methods of AIDS prevention if their parent or legal guardian files with the principal a written request that the student not participate in this instruction, with an assurance that the student will receive this instruction at home.
AIDS instruction in the elementary grades will be taught by the regular classroom teachers, while this instruction in the middle and high school grades will be a part of the required health education curriculum.
Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Instruction
High school students will be provided instruction in hands- only cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR and the use of an AED as part of the District’s health education program. Standards for this instruction will be based on a nationally recognized instructional program that utilizes the most current guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care issued by the American Heart Association or a substantially equivalent organization, that are consistent with the requirements of the programs adopted by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, and that will incorporate instruction designed to:
a) Recognize the signs of a possible cardiac arrest and to call 911;
b) Provide an opportunity to demonstrate the psychomotor skills necessary to perform hands-only compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and
c) Provide awareness in the use of an AED.
A student with a disability may be exempted from the requirement for instruction in hands-only CPR and the use of AEDs if the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or accommodation plan
developed pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that the student is physically or cognitively unable to perform the tasks included in the instruction.
Conservation of Natural Resources
Instruction relating to the conservation of the natural resources of New York State will be provided in accordance with law and regulation.
Fire and Arson Prevention/Injury Prevention/Life Safety Education
District administration will provide instruction in fire and arson prevention, injury prevention, and life safety education relating to protection against injury or death and property loss or damage as a result of criminally initiated or other preventable fire.
This instruction will include materials to educate children on the dangers of falsely reporting a criminal incident, an impending explosion or fire emergency involving danger to life or property, an impending catastrophe, or a life safety emergency. This instruction will be given to all students for a period of at least 45 minutes during each month that school is in session.
Safety and Accident Prevention in the Schools
Instruction in courses in technology education, science, home and career skills, health and safety, physical education, and art will include and emphasize safety and accident prevention.
Safety instruction will precede the use of materials and equipment by students in relevant courses. Instructors will teach and enforce all safety procedures relating to the particular courses, including wearing protective eye devices during appropriate activities.
Eye Safety
The Superintendent or designee will ensure that eye safety devices are distributed as necessary and that they are properly repaired, cleaned, and stored to prevent the spread of germs or diseases after use. Each classroom teacher is responsible for the safe and proper use of all instructional materials and equipment by students in their classroom.
Instruction on Prevention of Child Abduction
All students in grades K through 8 in District schools will receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction of children provided by or under the direct supervision of regular classroom teachers. The Board will provide appropriate training and curriculum materials for the regular classroom teachers who provide this instruction. However, at the Board’s discretion, this instruction may be provided by any other public or private agency.
The Commissioner of Education will provide technical assistance to assist in developing curricula for these courses of study which must be age appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of students at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness skills, information, self-confidence, and support to aid in the prevention of child abduction.
For purposes of developing these courses of study, the Board may establish local advisory councils or utilize the school-based shared decision making and planning committee established under the Commissioner’s regulations to make recommendations concerning the content and implementation of these courses. Alternatively, the District may utilize courses of instruction developed by consortia of school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, other school districts, or any other public or private agency. The advisory council will consist of, but not be limited to, parents, school trustees and Board members, appropriate school personnel, business and community representatives, and law enforcement personnel having experience in the prevention of child abduction.
Instruction on Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse
All students in grades K through 8 in District schools will receive instruction designed to educate students, parents, teachers, and other school personnel about the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. This instruction may be included as part of the District’s health education program.
Curriculum addressing this topic will be developed in consultation with school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, parents, and community members. The curriculum will be designed to:
- Assist students, parents, teachers, and other school personnel in identifying child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation;
- Provide awareness, assistance, referral, and resource information for students and families who are victims of child sexual abuse and/or child sexual exploitation; and
- Be aligned to grade objectives prescribed by the Commissioner in guidance.
Instruction on Child Development and Parenting Skills
Instruction regarding child development and parenting skills may be offered by the District as part of either its home economics or health education program. .
- Education Law §§ 409-a, 803-a, 803-b, 804-b, 804-c, 804-d, 808, 810, and 3204
- 8 NYCRR §§ 100.2(c), 135.3, and 141.10
NOTE: Refer also to Policies
- #3410 — Code of Conduct
- #7320 — Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, and Other Substances (Students)
- District Code of Conduct
Adopted: 8/24/11
Revised: 9/22/20; 6/13/2023