Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Craig County School Board on Nov. 11 unanimously approved a new policy supporting students who volunteer as firefighters or emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
The policy, submitted by New Castle District’s Walter Marsden and seconded by Craig Creek District’s Heather Matheney, ensures that students called to emergency duty before the start of the school day will not have that time counted as an absence if the response extends into regular school hours.
Students participating in after-school extracurricular activities, including athletics, will not be penalized for leaving early due to verified emergency service responsibilities. Documentation from the appropriate emergency service agency is required for each occurrence, and students may be excused under this provision up to five times per school year.
The policy stems from a proposal first discussed by the board on Oct. 14, submitted by Darren Gilreath, vice chairman of the Simmonsville School District Board. At that meeting, Gilreath said the policy “is intended to recognize and support the valuable service these students provide to our community. They should not be penalized for fulfilling their volunteer emergency service commitments.”
Craig City District Chair Trace Bellassai added that the policy would give students “some leeway” if their service with the fire department or rescue squad causes them to be late to school or miss part of extracurricular activities.
At the Nov. 11 meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve the policy, formally ensuring that student volunteers can respond to emergencies without academic or extracurricular penalties.
