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Mountain View Whisman School District students could see more formal protections from extreme heat, poor air quality, floods and sun exposure under a draft weather safety policy being reviewed by the district.
The draft policy, listed as Policy 5141.75, would require the superintendent or a designee to develop and maintain protocols for extreme weather conditions. The policy is meant to protect students during activities, including physical education classes, district-sponsored sports, and athletic practices or games.
The policy defines extreme weather as unusually severe conditions, including high heat, excessive precipitation and flooding, that may pose a significant risk to students.
Under the draft policy, the district would be required to set clear criteria for when outdoor physical activities should be changed or stopped. The protocols would cover procedures for monitoring forecasts and alerts, and for notifying staff, students and families about changes to outdoor activities. The policy would also help identify indoor alternatives during severe weather.
Staff would also be trained to recognize signs of weather-related distress in students and how to respond appropriately, according to the draft.
The policy also considers air quality, including wildfire smoke. Air quality index thresholds would be set for reducing or canceling strenuous outdoor activities, moving activities indoors and identifying resources such as shade structures, hydration stations and indoor cooling areas.
The draft includes a sun safety section. It would allow students to wear sun-protective clothing, UV-protective sunglasses and lip balm, and approve sunscreen during the school day without a doctor’s note or prescription. Students using sunscreen would be encouraged to apply it 15 to 20 minutes before prolonged outdoor activity, though school staff would not be required to help apply it.
The superintendent or designee would also evaluate the adequacy of shaded and indoor recreation areas at each school and consider shade in future construction or modernization plans.
The policy would be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect changes in weather patterns, safety practices and feedback from stakeholders.
The Board Policy Committee reviewed the weather safety policy along with several other policy updates at the June 11 Board of Trustees meeting. The agenda recommended moving the policies forward for first review and reading at a future meeting.
