HUGHESVILLE - East Lycoming School Board approved the first reading of its new policy regarding concussion management at Tuesday night's meeting.
The policy removes any student from athletic play who is determined by a game official or official designated by the district to show symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury. The state requires school districts develop a concussion policy by July 1, Superintendent Michael D. Pawlik said.
The coach shall remove the student, who will not be allowed to return until evaluated and cleared in writing by an appropriate medical professional.
Coaches annually will have to complete a concussion management certification training course offered by a state Department of Health provider.
The first time a coach violates the policy, he or she will receive suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season. The second violation will result in suspension for the current season and the next season. The third violation will result in permanent suspension from coaching any athletic activity.
"The policy basically outlines how we will make sure all of our coaches are trained to identify the potential of a concussion," Pawlik said.
In addition, students and parents will be made aware of the policy by having to sign and return the concussion and traumatic brain injury information sheet every year before participating in athletic activities.
In the upcoming weeks, a similar policy will be addressed regarding sudden cardiac arrest, Pawlik said.
In other business, fourth-grade teacher Jenn Nields received national board certification, which Pawlik described as a long process which includes videotaping the person teaching.
"It's a long, hard process, but I had such support," Nields said. "It definitely changes the way you look at teaching. I would recommend any teacher going for it."
There are more than 900 teachers with the certification in the state and more than 97,000 teachers with the certification in the country. On the list of schools with the most certified teachers, the school in fifth place has 25 teachers. East Lycoming School District has "double digits" of certified teachers, Pawlik said.
Three students also gave presentations to the board that they presented at the Pennsylvania High School Computer Fair, held on May 22.
Sarah Hnatin designed a dragon-themed restaurant for the competition, featuring a logo, menu and children's menu. She credited her project to her imagination and passion for dragons.
Jay and Eric Hiller showed the movie they made, which featured a nerd reading a comic book who imagines his own adventure fighting glowing aliens that can throw fire and clone themselves.
Other than the fire, everything shown in the movie they created themselves, including the spinning Earth animation and other special effects.
