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C. New Business <br />Approval of the RMHS Student Handbook <br />Mr. Bakr outlined the changes in the student handbook. <br />Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the Reading <br />Memorial High School Handbook for the 2017-18 school year. The motion <br />carried 5-0. <br />Introduction of New SRO <br />Ms. McNamara took the opportunity to congratulate SRO Mike Muolo on his <br />promotion and thank him for his work as the School Resource Officer and <br />welcomed new SRO Brian Lewis. <br />Dr. Doherty reviewed the hiring process and said that SRO Lewis has been on the <br />force since Feb. 2016. Prior to coming to Reading he was an officer with the <br />Portsmouth, NH department. <br />Lt. Abate added that SRO Brian Lewis will shadow outgoing SRO Muolo. <br />YRBS Presentation <br />High School <br />Ms. McNamara began her presentation on the 2017 results of the YRBS. This <br />year the information will be presented in two parts. Tonight's presentation will <br />focus on School Climate, Behavioral Health and Substance Misuse. Data is <br />collected every two years as required as part of its state and federal funding to <br />collect this data. The Reading Public Schools provide the survey, oversight and <br />collection, RCASA is responsible for coordination, materials, development, <br />comparison and data targets and a third party is used for data cleaning and <br />analysis. The YRBS survey is conducted every 2 years to the high and middle <br />school students. This is a voluntary survey and parents can opt their children out <br />of taking the survey. In 1991, 26 states participated in the survey. In 2015, 47 <br />states participate in the survey, with 15,624 public/private school students <br />comprising the 2015 probability sample. <br />Our high school students were asked 123 questions which was administered by <br />the Wellness teachers, it was anonymous and confidential and students were told <br />that participation was voluntary and they could skip any questions that they were <br />not comfortable answering. <br />She went on to review selected findings of this year's data. There was an increase <br />in the response that students felt they had a trusted adult in school they could go <br />to which is good news. Ms. McNamara next reviewed questions dealing with <br />stress. Data showed that sources of stress included workload, worry about the <br />future, school expectations, lack of sleep and busy schedules. She next reviewed <br />the sleep data stating that sleep is necessary for physical and mental health and is <br />particularly important during adolescence. The analysis of national YRBS <br />numbers indicate that insufficient sleep is associated with higher odds of current <br />Page 1 2 <br />