The Columbia School Board approved a revised seclusion, isolation and restraint policy at Monday’s December meeting.
Before Monday’s discussion on the policy, district administration met with representatives from the Special Education Parent Teacher Association and Missouri Disability Empowerment, according to the meeting agenda.
“We felt there was a step we needed to take,” Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said, referencing the district’s meeting with SEPTA and MoDE. He said they worked through some of the policy’s language and had a “very productive” conversation.
The largest portion of clarification in the policy regards the district’s obligation to notify parents and guardians following an emergency situation involving the use of seclusion, isolation or restraint within 10 school days of the incident. The report must include a plan to prevent the need for future use of seclusion, isolation or restraint, along with other details about the incident. The previous policy stated that “parents will receive copies of any incident reports generated regarding their student upon request.”
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