5336 - CARE OF STUDENTS WITH DIABETES

The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that each student enrolled in the District who has diabetes receives appropriate and needed diabetes care in accordance with an order signed by the student's treating practitioner.

The diabetes care to be provided includes any of the following:

1. checking and recording blood glucose levels and ketone levels or assisting the student with checking and recording these levels;
2. responding to blood glucose levels that are outside of the student's target range;
3. in the case of severe hypoglycemia, administering glucagon and other emergency treatments as prescribed;
4. administering insulin or assisting the student in self-administering insulin through the insulin delivery system the student uses;
5. providing oral diabetes medications;
6. understanding recommended schedules and food intake for meals and snacks in order to calculate medication dosages pursuant to the student's treating practitioner's order;
7. following the treating practitioner's instructions regarding meals, snacks, and physical activity; and
8. administering diabetes medication, as long as the conditions described below are satisfied.

Within fourteen (14) days after the District receives an order signed by the student's treating practitioner, the Board will inform the student's parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of the student that the student may be entitled to a Section 504 Plan regarding the student's diabetes. The Board will use the 504 plan information sheet developed by the Ohio Department of Education to provide such notification.

With regard to the administration of diabetes medication:

1. The diabetes medication may be administered by a school nurse, or in the absence of a school nurse, such medication can be administered by a school employee who is trained in diabetes care. Such training must comply with the Ohio Department of Education's training guidelines, which address the following issues:
    
   1. recognizing the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia;
   2. the appropriate treatment for a student who exhibits the symptoms of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia;
   3. recognizing situations that require the provision of emergency medical assistance to a student;
   4. understanding the appropriate treatment for a student, based on an order issued by the student’s treating practitioner, if the student’s blood glucose level is not within the target range indicated by the order;
   5. understanding the instructions in an order issued by a student’s treating practitioner concerning necessary medications;
   6. performing blood glucose and ketone tests for a student in accordance with the student’s treating practitioner’s order and recording the results of those tests;
   7. administering insulin, glucagon, or other medication to a student in accordance with the student’s treating practitioner’s order and recording the results of the administration; and
   8. understanding the relationship between the diet recommended in a student’s treating practitioner’s order and actions that may be taken if the recommended diet is not followed.

The training must also comply with the following additional requirements:

1. The training must be coordinated by a school nurse, or if the school does not employ a school nurse, a licensed health care professional (e.g., a medical or osteopathic doctor, a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, or physician's assistant) with expertise in diabetes who is approved by the District to provide the training.
2. The training will take place prior to the beginning of each school year or, as needed, not later than fourteen (14) days after the Board receives an order signed by the treating practitioner of a student with diabetes.
3. Upon completion of the training, the Board will determine whether each trained employee is competent to provide diabetes care.
4. The school nurse or approved licensed health care professional with expertise in diabetes care will promptly provide all necessary follow-up training and supervision to an employee who receives training.

2. The Principal of a school attended by a student with diabetes will distribute a written notice (see Form 5336 F1) to each employee containing the following information:
    
   1. A statement that the school is required to provide diabetes care to a student with diabetes and is seeking employees who are willing to be trained to provide that care.
   2. A description of the tasks to be performed.
   3. A statement that participation is voluntary and that the school district will not take action against an employee who does not agree to provide diabetes care, including that the employee will not be penalized or disciplined for refusing to volunteer to be trained in diabetes care.
   4. A statement that training will be provided by a licensed health care professional with expertise in diabetes to an employee who agrees to provide care.
   5. A statement that a trained employee will not be subject to disciplinary action by the Board for providing care or performing duties to students with diabetes.
   6. A statement that a trained employee is immune from liability for damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly arising from providing care or performing duties under this Policy (unless the act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct).
   7. The name of the individual to contact if an employee is interested in providing diabetes care.

The school nurse and/or the school employee can only administer diabetes medication as described above if the requirements of Policy 5330 are met.

A student's diabetes medication will be kept in an easily accessible location.

A student with diabetes will be permitted to attend to the student's diabetes care and management, in accordance with the student's treating practitioner's order, during regular school hours and school-sponsored activities only if:

1. the student's parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of a student provides a written request that the student be permitted to attend to the student's diabetes care and management while at school (see Form 5330 F1); and
2. the student's treating practitioner has authorized such self-care and determined that the student is capable of performing diabetes care tasks (see Form 5330 F1).

A student with diabetes is permitted to perform diabetes care tasks in a classroom, in any area of the school or school grounds, and at any school-related activity. The student must have access to a private area for performing diabetes care tasks if the student or the student's parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of a student makes such a request.

A student with diabetes is permitted to possess on the student's self at all times all necessary supplies and equipment to perform diabetes care tasks. If the student performs any diabetes care tasks or uses medical equipment for purposes other than the student's own care, the Board will revoke the student's permission to attend to the care and management of the student's diabetes.

The Board will provide training in the recognition of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and actions to take in response to emergency situations involving these conditions to both of the following:

1. a school employee who has primary responsibility for supervising a student with diabetes during some portion of the school day, and
2. a bus driver employed by the Board who transports a student with diabetes.

By December 31 of each year, the Board will report to the Ohio Department of Education the following information regarding students with diabetes:

1. the number of students with diabetes enrolled in the District during the previous school year, and
2. the number of errors associated with the administration of diabetes medication to students with diabetes during the previous school year.

In accordance with Ohio law, the Board and its members and school employees shall not be liable for damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from providing care or performing duties under this Policy unless the act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. Additionally, a school nurse or other licensed health care professional shall be immune from disciplinary action by the Board of Nursing or any other regulatory board for providing care or performing duties under this Policy if the care provided or duties performed are consistent with applicable professional standards.

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