EXCLUSION OF STUDENTS

EXCLUSION OF STUDENTS

po5342Adopted January 1, 2002Revised May 19, 2016

5342 - EXCLUSION OF STUDENTS

In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable diseases and conditions and in recognition that prevention and treatment are means of combating the spread of disease and conditions, the Board recognizes that there are times when students need to be excluded from school until such time that they are not a health risk to other students. These diseases or conditions may include but are not limited to: head lice, scabies, impetigo, ringworm, chicken pox, mumps, pink eye, unknown rashes, fifths disease, scarletine, poison ivy, mononucleosis and veneral disease.

This policy shall be the administrative responsibility of the school nurse.

The Board believes that the treatment of these diseases and conditions are the primary responsibility of the parents.

Guidelines for the Control of Head Lice and Nits

When a school employee has received a report or if they suspect a student has head lice, the following steps will be taken:

  1. The school nurse will be contacted.

  2. If the school nurse determines the student has "active" (live lice) the student will be excluded from school and required to receive suitable treatment at home immediately.

  3. The child's parents or guardian will be notified immediately. Educational material will be provided to the student and parent or guardian.

  4. Any siblings will be checked for lice as well.

  5. The staff of the school will maintain confidentiality.

The student must remain out of school for a minimum of twelve (12) hours to allow for treatment. They will be checked by the school nurse or other designated personnel the next school morning following treatment.

The student may return to school the morning after initial treatment if the following conditions are met:

  1. A parent must accompany the student - NO BUS RIDE to school the next day.

  2. The parent must wait until the head check is completed.

  3. The student is free from live lice.

  4. The parent must show an obvious attempt to remove the majority of nits. Nits that are present are acceptable but if it takes longer than ten (10) minutes to remove nits from hair, the student will be sent home to remove excessive nits.

  5. If the student has missed a significant number of school days because of lice infestation and does not have live lice, the student may return to class as long as monitoring of the progress of nit removal is made by the school nurse or designated personnel.

  6. All students that have live lice will be checked in seven to ten (7-10) days from initial treatment. In case of chronic, repeated infestations, the student may be rechecked as often as needed at the discretion of the school nurse or building administrator.

Guidelines for the Control of Communicable Disease

  1. The school nurse will be notified of either confirmed or suspected communicable disease.

  2. A high level of attendance for each student is ideal. Students are not to be sent home with minor aches, pains, or discomforts. If a question arises, the school nurse is to be contacted. Fevers, vomiting and diarrhea are sufficient reasons to send a child home.

  3. The student will be excluded from school immediately if a communicable disease is suspected. Suspected communicable disease is defined as any situation that has the appearance or symptoms of a known communicable disease. Depending on circumstances, the parents will be notified either by telephone or letter.

  4. The student will be excluded until such time that the parents provide sufficient evidence that treatment has been obtained. Sufficient evidence is defined as:

    1. physician statement saying the student is under his/her treatment and may return to school;

    2. student has the appearance that s/he is disease free. This would include only extrinsic diseases or conditions that could initially be observed, such as pinkeye, chickenpox. Intrinsic diseases such as mononucleosis still require a physician’s statement.

  5. The school nurse will be informed by the appropriate school that the student has returned to school.

  6. If the student does not furnish sufficient evidence that s/he has obtained treatment or if the student has the appearance or symptoms of the actual disease, s/he will not be readmitted to school. The parent will be notified by letter.

  7. Each school will notify the school nurse on Friday of each week as to the number of communicable diseases in the school that week. This in turn will be reported to the Perry County Health Department on Friday of each week.

Revised 9/15/11