Updates from the Canton School Committee: Concussion Policy and Healthy Donations

Students and parents will soon be getting educated on the concussion policy. 

The district has been working on a concussion policy over the past 18 months and presented an update to the on February 2.

The state Department of Public Health has mandated that schools have a policy in place by March, according to .

Starting this spring, parents will need to complete a 20-minute course on concussions, he said.

"If they don’t, that athlete can’t participate in sports," Erickson said.

The course would be online and likely offered at the Annual Athletic Night, he noted.

The issue of school-sports-related head injuries has been "very much at the forefront the last couple years," Erickson said.

"During the past year, the level of concussion awareness…has increased like 20- fold," he told the committee.

And the Canton school district, with the assistance of the school nurse leader, has been "knee deep into the process the last 18 months," he noted.

Last year, the district introduced a protocol and now, a formal policy is being issued, he said. The final policy will need final approval by the School Committee.

"In my 20 years, I've never seen an imitative move so quickly," Erickson said. "It's great to see."

Over the past year, there has been intense communication involving the school nurse, the guidance department, athletics department, teachers, parents and students regarding concussions, the director said.

The circle of communication is "really becoming complete and the kids are truly benefiting," Erickson said.

Also at the meeting:

• Superintendent of Schools Jeff Granatino congratulated the Gavin Middle School for fundraising. The students held a Think Pink breast cancer awareness day and raised over $800, he said. "Kudos to the folks at GMS," he said.
• The Hansen School received a $500 donation for outdoor athletic activities from CABI, Granatino said. Gene Manning, the CABI chairman, said the grant will promote wellness at the Hansen and allow the kids to promote the Canton Road Race. The race will be held in September, with the date to be determined, he said.