By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The School Committee is looking to update the district’s concussion policy.
School Committee Vice Chair Jenny Sheehan, who serves on the Policy Subcommittee, said during a recent meeting that Policy JJIF pertains to the district’s “Sports-Related and Extracurricular Activities Concussion Management Policy and Procedures.” She said School Committeeman Jamie Hayman informed her and School Committee member Jim Dillon, who also serves on the Policy Subcommittee, that the policy was “outdated” because it was last updated 12 years ago.
“There are actually two policies in the manual,” said Sheehan. “We separately have protocols in our district that are currently being done. We are starting fresh.”
Sheehan said the Policy Subcommittee and Superintendent Tom Geary have been “cross-referencing” a policy recommendation from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) with the district’s current concussion protocols.
“It outlines procedures for staff to follow in terms of managing concussions,” said Sheehan. “This is based on current research and best practices as well as state law. Research has shown that returning to play too soon can result in prolonged post-concussion syndrome or something worse called second-impact syndrome. Those are other factors that are being considered as well.”
Sheehan said the revised concussion policy “applies to all extracurricular activities,” including sports teams, clubs and “anything administered by Lynnfield Public Schools.”
According to the proposed revised concussion policy, all coaches, athletic trainers, volunteers, nurses, the school physician and athletic director must complete an online training course.
“This is nothing new,” said Sheehan.
Sheehan said student-athletes who suffer a concussion have to complete baseline concussion test called ImPACT before they can resume playing a sport.
“That is a state law that is currently being done,” said Sheehan. “If a concussion happens, the policy breaks down the process for monitoring symptoms as well as academic reentry plans and communication plans with all of the relevant parties. It will be reviewed biannually with any changes needing to be voted on by the School Committee as is standard protocol.”
Sheehan said any changes or updates to the policy will be given to Lynnfield High School Athletic Director/K-12 Physical Education, Health and Wellness Coordinator Mia Muzio as well as athletic coaches. She also said the policy will be referenced in the secondary schools’ handbooks.
Hayman thanked Sheehan and Dillon for reviewing the concussion policy.
“I was surprised that it was last updated 12 years ago,” said Hayman. “Concussion science has come a long way in 12 years.”
Hayman asked that the school system’s physician review the revised concussion policy before the School Committee votes to approve it.
“It would make me more comfortable to be able to say we came up with this policy, it has been reviewed by the athletic director and it has been reviewed by a physician who has given it a thumbs up,” said Hayman.
Geary expressed his support for Hayman’s request.
“I think the district’s doctor should take a look at it,” said Geary. “We had the nurses look at it and the athletic director. This policy has been our protocol for a couple of years now. The MASC policy is three-years-old, so it is far more updated than ours.”
Sheehan informed the Villager that the School Committee will be discussing the revised “Sports-Related and Extracurricular Activities Concussion Management Policy and Procedures” on Tuesday, Dec. 10.