By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board discussed a proposal Monday night to stock Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of opiod overdose, at all USD 489 schools.
School nurses and other district medical staff will be trained to administer the drug, which is a nasal spray. All schools are staffed with some type of medical staff daily.
"It can be life-saving," Superintendent Ron Wilson said. "We can reverse those affects almost immediately if we have that in all our buildings."
Narcan does not have side effects if a person is not suffering an overdose.
The cost of the drug is $50 per dose and has a shelf life of two years.
Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent, said having the Narcan at the schools is similar to having AED at schools.
Some districts have only stocked the medication in middle and high schools.
Board member Lori Hertel noted some opioids are being manufactured in rainbow colors and resemble candy.
Wilson said he wanted to make sure the Narcan was available in instances of even unintentional overdoses.
The board had first reading of the proposal at its meeting Monday night and is set to vote on final approval at its next meeting on Oct 24.
Wilson HVAC
The board approved $2.4 million for HVAC improvements at Wilson Elementary School.
The district had intended on doing a second phase of HVAC improvements to the current high school. However, a bond passed that will convert the current high school into a middle school. A new high school also will be built as part of the bond.
District officials urged the board to delay the work at the current high school building as walls will likely be moved when that building is renovated into a middle school.
Wilson is set to be closed as an elementary school once the bond projects are complete. However, the district plans to move its administrative office into the Wilson once it is closed as a school.
Rusty Lindsay, director of building and grounds, said the Wilson HVAC system was in the most need of replacement.
The work on the HVAC system will be done this summer and give the students who attend the school during the next two years better heating and cooling.
Wilson is not set to be renovated under the bond. Administrative offices will require a lesser HVAC load than classrooms, so the district is working with the engineers to design the new system for the building's future use.
Cover photo provided by Pixabay.