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Kimberly Small, executive director of the Illinois Association
of School Boards, discussed how some new laws impact school life
as summer winds to a close. Some bills deal with mental health
issues ranging from bullying to trauma and drug overdoses.
Small anticipates students will be helped by a law that takes
effect in January requiring schools keep a supply of opioid
antagonists to save lives from drug overdoses.
“I expect that it will help,” she told The Center Square.
This is not the first time schools have kept undesignated
supplies of medication, she said, citing the use of epinephrine
for severe allergies.
To deal with trauma, another law requires that school employees
and board members get training in how to respond.
“That law is going to benefit school board members as they
consider how to provide and allocate resources to support
individuals who have experienced trauma,” Small said.
Bullying can leave a student depressed and unwilling to go to
school. Now, any administrator learning of a bullying incident
must tell the parent of the involved child within 24 hours of
the incident. Previously, parents were to get prompt
notification, but prompt was not defined.
When students go back to school, they also will have easier
access to a mental health hotline number, which will be printed
on their identification cards. The chosen hotline is Safe2Help,
and it is available 24/7 through a state initiative. That number
is 844-472-3345.
Lastly, Small talked about how a law that provides more teaching
support by doubling the time a substitute can stay in a
classroom to 90 days.
“We’re excited this will provide greater consistency for the
students our members are educating,” she said.
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