Londonderry School Board Weighs Concussion Policy

Falling in line with new state law regarding concussions in school sports, the Londonderry School Board is continuing to weigh a new policy aimed at protecting student athletes.

A new state law approved last summer requires schools to distribute information about head injuries annually to all students participating in school sports.

The law further mandates that coaches and trainers pull a student from play immediately if a head injury is suspected. That student is not allowed to return to play until he or she is given medical clearance by a health care provider, according to the law.

But the concussion policy proposed in Londonderry goes a step further, requiring both students and parents to complete a free online course before a student may participate in a school sport.

The free course, called Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, is made available online by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"It's a serious issue," said Superintendent Nate Greenberg at Tuesday's School Board meeting. "It can have long-term impacts on a child of a significant nature and I think making people recognize what the symptoms are and having a progressive treatment plan is extremely important."

The draft policy also lays out a timeline for students with an identified concussion to return to daily activities, school work and eventually sports.

School Board member Leitha Reilly said she was glad to see that parents would be actively involved in the process.

"While it could be laborious for some parents out there and student athletes, I think it's excellent because we're not just educating what it is but also how to recognize it and what to do about it rather than just handing them a pamphlet," Reilly said. 

But member John Robinson said he thought the policy overstepped its bounds.

"I applaud the intent. I think we should do everything we can to limit or eliminate the danger of concussions and brain injuries as much as we can," he said. "But that being said, as a parent, I'm a little bothered by the idea that the School District is going to tell me that I must complete a training program before my kid can participate in a sports program."

The draft policy was brought before the School Board for a first reading in September. The draft will return to the board for further consideration at an upcoming meeting.