USE OF MEDICATIONS | Policy Manual

5330 - USE OF MEDICATIONS

The Governing Board shall not be responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. With the exception of diabetes care covered under Governing Board Policy 5336, the administration of prescribed medication and/or medically-prescribed treatments to a student during school hours shall be permitted only when failure to do so would jeopardize the health of the student, the student would not be able to attend school if the medication or treatment were not made available during school hours, or if the child is disabled and requires medication to benefit from the educational program.

For purposes of this policy, “medication” shall include all medicines including those prescribed by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and any nonprescribed (over-the-counter) drugs, preparations, and/or remedies. "Over-the-counter drug" means a drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, that may be legally sold without a prescription and that is administered without the instruction of a prescriber. "Prescription drug" means a drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, that is to be administered pursuant to the instructions of the prescriber, whether or not required by law to be sold only upon a prescription. “Treatment” refers both to the manner in which a medication is administered and to health-care procedures which require special training, such as catheterization.

Before any prescribed medication (i.e., a drug) or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, the Governing Board shall require a written statement from a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs (“prescriber”) accompanied by the written authorization of the parent. These documents shall be kept on file in the health center office and made available to the persons designated by this policy as authorized to administer medication or treatment. A copy of the parent’s written request and authorization and the prescriber’s written statement shall be given, by the next school day following the ESC’s receipt of the documents, to the person authorized to administer drugs to the student for whom the authorization and statement have been received. No student is allowed to provide or sell any type of over-the-counter medication to another student. Violations of this rule shall be considered violations of Governing Board Policy 5530 - Drug Prevention and of the Student Code of Conduct/Discipline Code.

In the case of non-prescribed (over-the-counter) medications, the same procedures as outlined above are to be followed with the exception of those procedures referring to the written statement from a licensed health professional. The Governing Board shall require only a written authorization of the parent to administer non-prescribed (over-the-counter) medication. The parent is responsible for complying with all procedures in lieu of the prescriber and assumes liability for any harm to the student arising from the administration of the non-prescribed medication.

For prescription drugs, only medication in its original container; labeled with the date, if a prescription; the student's name; and exact dosage will be administered. Over-the-counter drugs must be provided and maintained in the original manufacturer's packaging. The Superintendent shall determine a location in each building where the medications to be administered under this policy shall be stored, which shall be a locked storage place, unless the medications require refrigeration in which case they shall be stored in a refrigerator in a place not commonly used by students, and unless the medication to be administered is seizure or diabetes medication, which may be kept in an easily accessible location pursuant to this Policy and/or Policy 5336.

Parents may administer medication or treatment but only in the presence of a designated ESC employee, with the exception of diabetes care covered under Governing Board Policy 5336.

Additionally, students may administer medication or treatment to themselves, if authorized in writing by their parents and a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs but only in the presence of a designated ESC employee, with the exception of students authorized to attend to their diabetes care and management pursuant to Governing Board Policy 5336.

However, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as necessary, an asthma inhaler, provided the student has prior written permission from the student's parent and physician.

Additionally, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as necessary, an epinephrine auto-injector to treat anaphylaxis, provided the student has prior written approval from the prescriber of the medication and the student's parent/guardian, if the student is a minor, and has submitted written approval. The parent/guardian or the student shall provide a back-up dose of the medication to the principal/program manager or school nurse. This permission shall extend to any activity, event, or program sponsored by the school or in which the school participates. In the event epinephrine is administered by the student or an ESC employee at school or at any of the covered events, an ESC employee shall immediately request assistance from an emergency medical service provider (911). Students with diabetes authorized to attend to their diabetes care and management may do so in accordance with Governing Board Policy 5336.

Students may possess a drug prescribed to the student to prevent the onset of a seizure or to alleviate the symptoms of a seizure, provided that the student has prior written approval from the student’s physician, and if the student is a minor, the written approval of the student’s parent or guardian (Form 5330 F5 - Authorization for the Possession and Use of Seizure Medications). Copies of the written approvals must be provided to the Principal and any school nurse assigned to the building. This permission shall extend to any activity, event, or program sponsored by the school or in which the school participates.

With the exception of diabetes care covered under Governing Board Policy 5336, only employees of the Governing Board who are licensed health professionals or who have completed a drug administration training program conducted by a licensed health professional and are designated by the Governing Board may administer prescription drugs to students in school.

With the exception of diabetes care covered under Governing Board Policy 5336, provided they have completed the requisite training, the following staff are authorized to administer prescription and over-the-counter medication and treatment to students:

principal/program manager;
school nurse;
building secretary; and
others as designated by student’s IEP and/or 504 plan.

Individuals who administer medications designed to prevent the onset of seizures or alleviate the symptoms of a seizure will receive training regarding the circumstances under which the drug is to be administered to the student and how it should be administered. They will also receive a copy of the written approval issued by the student’s physician.

No employee shall be required to administer a drug to a student if the employee objects, on the basis of religious convictions, to administering the drug.