The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education considered sweeping changes to student health and safety policies at its last meeting, addressing everything from fentanyl prevention to cell phone usage as officials work to update outdated regulations and comply with new state laws.
The board reviewed several Board Policies and Administrative Regulations in what Director of Student Services Dr. Frank Dussan called "the first batch of many" updates needed across the district.
Wellness Committee Restructuring Draws Debate
The most contentious discussion centered on proposed changes to the district's student wellness oversight structure. Staff recommended dissolving the existing board District Advisory Committee for student health and safety, replacing it with a new Superintendent's Advisory Committee that would not be subject to Brown Act public meeting requirements.
"We can meet virtually and we can meet anytime, anywhere," said Dussan, explaining the proposed change. "I think we're going to encourage more participation if we make that happen."
The new structure would allow greater flexibility and potentially increase participation from Malibu residents who face logistical challenges attending in-person meetings, officials said. The committee would also include student voices, with staff emphasizing the importance of peer-to-peer approaches to student wellness.
However, board members expressed concerns about governance and representation. Board member Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein supported the concept but questioned the timing, stating he was "fully on board" with the change but worried it might be "premature to vote this evening" without addressing key questions about the application process and structure.
Ultimately, the board decided to place the current Health and Safety DAC on hiatus rather than dissolving it immediately, pending additional information about the proposed Superintendent's Advisory Committee structure and processes.
Drug Policy Updates Target Fentanyl Crisis
Responding to the growing synthetic drug crisis, the board considered significant updates to alcohol and drug policies. New provisions would require annual notifications to parents about dangers associated with synthetic drugs like fentanyl and how social media platforms are used to market and sell these substances.
"We found out a few cases in our school district that this is a case where our students are being outreached through social media to engage in these types of transactions," Dussan told the board.
The updated policies reflect recent state legislation allowing students in grades 6-12 to carry fentanyl test strips and federally-approved opioid antagonists on school grounds. Students 12 and older would be permitted to carry and administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for emergency treatment of suspected opioid overdoses.
The policies also prohibit suspension of students who voluntarily disclose substance use when seeking help, emphasizing a restorative rather than punitive approach. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, high schools will be required to include instruction about fentanyl dangers in health education classes required for graduation.
High School Cell Phone Policy Finalized
After extensive consultation with students and staff, the board reviewed the final high school cell phone regulation, implementing a bell-to-bell approach. The policy requires students to silence phones and place them in designated classroom storage areas during class time, though teachers may authorize use for instructional purposes.
The policy development included comprehensive data collection showing stark differences between the district's two high schools. At Santa Monica High School, 81.2% of teachers collect phones during class, compared to just 22.7% at Malibu High School.
Student focus groups revealed mixed perspectives on phone regulation. While supporting some restrictions, students emphasized phones' importance for family communication during emergencies, particularly citing the Malibu fires as an example.
The policy includes accommodations for students with medical needs documented in 504 plans, such as diabetes monitoring equipment. Progressive discipline measures range from teacher confiscation until day's end for first offenses to potential temporary bans and activity restrictions for repeat violations.
Health Services Policies Expanded
The board also reviewed extensive updates to medication administration and health monitoring policies. Changes include replacing auto-injectable epinephrine with broader epinephrine terminology to accommodate new delivery methods like nasal epinephrine.
New state laws authorize districts to provide emergency stock albuterol inhalers to trained personnel for students experiencing respiratory distress. The policies expand protocols for administering anti-seizure medication and provide civil liability protection for employees and volunteers administering emergency opioid antagonists.
District Nurse Coordinator Priscilla Guzman explained that many changes reflect medications and procedures already in practice but requiring updated policy language to ensure compliance with evolving state regulations.
Additional policy updates address asthma management, food allergies and dietary needs, head lice protocols, and health examinations. The policies clarify that students found with head lice will not automatically be sent home, focusing instead on treatment and support.
Next Steps
The Board Policies will return for formal action on August 28, with Administrative Regulations and Exhibits returning as information items. The medication administration regulation will receive additional updates following input from the Health Services team and legal counsel.
The district's online policy manual will be updated to reflect all changes following board approval, with management teams notified of the new requirements and procedures.