Example Policies, Plans, & Protocols

Local school districts know the needs and challenges they face in their community. The revised school rules take this into account and provide the flexibility for individual schools and districts to set policies that work best for them. This page includes example policies and protocols schools can adopt or alter to fit their needs. These resources are broken out by rule topic. Please review the rules in their entirety to understand specific policy requirements. 

Montana School Boards Association Model School Wellness Policy- Updated June 2021

School Comprehensive Cleaning Policy Examples

Bodily Fluid Clean-Up Policy Examples

Air Quality Monitoring & Control Policy
This sample policy can be adopted and edited by schools to meet the requirements of ARM 37.111.827 (OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY).

Recommendations for Outdoor Activities Based on Air Quality for School and Child Care Facilities
Schools are required to reference these guidelines when determining local air quality and deciding to hold or cancel outdoor events, including recess, sports, and other outdoor school-sponsored events.

Example Policies

Montana
  • Montana School Boards Association: School District Policies 
    Policy 3416 Administering Medicine to Students has been adopted by the Montana School Boards Association and the majority of Montana school districts. DPHHS is working with MTSBA to incorporate new language into the example policy that will fulfill the requirements of the school rule.

DPHHS will work with the Montana School Boards Association to create an example IPM Plan that meets the school rule requirements while protecting student and staff health, as well as the school environment.

Example Integrated Pest Management Plans

Integrated Pest Management Plan Template

Science, Industrial Arts, and Art Laboratory Safety Policies

The rules regarding Science, Industrial Arts, and Art Laboratory Safety will go into effect September 1, 2021.
Until the rules go into effect, schools are still expected to maintain safe and healthy learning environments in compliance with the already effective sub-chapters under rule 37.111.801. 

Chemical Hygiene Plans

District’s Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) describes practices, procedures, equipment and facilities to be used by staff, students, visitors and other personnel working in laboratories where chemicals, flammables and potentially hazardous materials exist. By following the practices and procedures within the CHP, students and adults shall be protected from any chemical exposure that exceeds permissible exposure limits and educated as to the hazardous nature of the chemicals they use.

Purpose of the District’s CHP:

  • Provides information to help protect employees, students and others working in school laboratories from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in the laboratory.
  • Details the processes and precautions intended to minimize chemical exposure.
  • Establishes a chain of command to handle specific safety responsibilities within the District and specific school sites.
  • Protects the environment from contamination due to hazardous chemicals utilized in the school laboratory.
  • Ensures appropriate management of chemicals in the District.

Example Chemical Hygiene Plans

Chemical Hygiene Plan Template

Safety Data Sheets

Chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide an SDS for any potentially hazardous chemical substance.

  • Safety Data Sheet Lookup
  • Montana Employee and Community Hazardous Chemical Information Act- Employee Rights
    • 50-78-204. Employee rights. (1) An employee who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals must be informed of the potential or actual exposure and must be provided access to the workplace chemical list and to the material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical. An employer who does not provide an employee with information on a hazardous chemical within 5 working days of the request for information, as required by this chapter, may not require the employee to work with the hazardous chemical until the information is made available.

      (2) Each employee must receive training from the employer, as provided in 50-78-305 or in the OSHA standard, on the hazards of workplace chemicals and on protective measures for handling those chemicals.
      (3) Each employee required to work with a hazardous chemical must be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment.
      (4) An employer may not discharge, cause to be discharged, discipline, discriminate against, or initiate any adverse personnel action against any employee who exercises the employee's rights, testifies, or assists others in exercising their rights or duties under this chapter.
      (5) A waiver by an employee of the benefits, rights, or requirements of this chapter is against public policy and is void. An employer's request or requirement that an employee waive any rights under this chapter as a condition of employment is a violation of this chapter.
      (6) A designated representative may act on behalf of an employee in pursuing any right or enforcement remedy under this chapter.
Example First Aid Policies Coming Soon!