A medicine to block the effects of an opioid overdose soon will be kept on school campuses in the Butler School District, as the result of a new policy passed Monday evening.

School board members, in a 5-3 vote, passed the policy, which ultimately allows the district to keep Naloxone at every school building in case of an overdose.

“It may save a life,” said Superintendent Dale Lumley, who was vocally supportive of the policy.

Board member, Bill Halle voted against it though.

“I praise God it exists, but I don’t think we should have it on campus,” Halle said.

The policy states that the school’s nurse is responsible for administering and managing the building’s supply of Naloxone. Each location’s internal procedures will be developed with help from the superintendent, or another designee, and likely put in place by the end of January.

School district employees, who will have access to the Naloxone, must first complete the online Pennsylvania Department of Health training program, which covers topics including the symptoms of an overdose and how to respond to the situation.

“It’s a very brief training … Doesn’t take very long,” Board solicitor Tom King said.

While school nurses will be the first ones to be trained, others could be trained later. The policy states, Naloxone will be “readily accessible to those employees who have completed the required training” and “all properly trained employees shall be informed of the exact location,” which leaves the district with the option to train others.

At Monday evening’s school board meeting, Lumley specifically mentioned the possibility of training security guards.

King explained that a trained employee would have to use his own discretion when deciding whether to administer Naloxone.

“(But) if they encounter a situation which they believe requires the administration of the drug, then they will administer the drug,” King said.

When dealing with a suspected opioid drug overdose, employees are required to first call 911 before addressing the situation. They should check for symptoms of an opioid overdose, and only then begin CPR and administer the Naloxone.

The policy states, employees should move the person into the “recovery position” and wait until medical help arrives.

The parents of a student would be contacted, and the student would be referred to the Student Assistance Program.

The school nurse will devise a plan that informs students, staff and parents about Naloxone, the symptoms of an opioid overdose, how to report suspected overdoses and more.

Lumley says he doesn’t know of any overdoses within the district thus far.

“I hope we never have to use it … but I think it’s worth doing,” Lumley said.