8420E - PANDEMICS AND OTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

A pandemic is an outbreak of an infectious disease. The Superintendent shall establish a Pandemic Response Team ("PRT") to develop a Pandemic Plan in coordination with local government and law enforcement officials.

The Pandemic Plan should include:

1. a communication method for school schedule changes, busing changes, and school closure;

2. an educational pandemic prevention program for staff and students;

3. provision for the business office to maintain continuity of operations during a pandemic;

4. provision for distance-based learning for students (i.e., Internet instruction, community channel broadcast) to maintain continuity of education;

5. policies and procedures for staff and student absences and extended leaves of absence due to a pandemic;

6. policies and procedures for isolation and possible transportation of students and staff who become ill at school due to a pandemic;

7. a plan of communication regarding pandemic status to students, parents, and staff;

8. a plan for operating the District with less staff due to a pandemic;

9. a designee responsible for establishing timelines within the Pandemic Plan and ensuring that such timelines are met and implementation of the plan occurs; and

10. other emergency procedures necessary for the District to deal with a pandemic.

The Pandemic Plan should be reviewed annually by the PRT and updated as appropriate.

© Neola 2009