Download Policy 4230 Communicable Diseases

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PURPOSE: To provide a safe and healthy environment for all students and employees
The Board strives to provide a safe and orderly healthy environment for all students and
employees. The Board also strives to maintain a balance between the need to educate all eligible
students, to protect students’ and employees’ rights, and to control communicable diseases
including HIV and AIDS.
Under certain circumstances, students with communicable diseases may pose a threat to the
health and safety of other students and staff employees. Decisions regarding the educational
status of students with communicable diseases will be made on a case-by-case basis in
accordance with this policy. Nothing in this policy is intended to grant or confer any school
attendance or education rights beyond those existing by law. This policy shall be shared with
school staff annually and with new employees as part of any initial orientation.
Definition of Communicable Disease
A communicable disease is defined as an illness due to an infections infectious agent, or its toxic
products, which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a person from an infected person or
animal.
Precautions
In order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, school system officials shall distribute
guidelines for necessary health and safety precautions will be distributed by the administration
and will be followed by all school employees that all school system employees must follow. (See
Board Policy 7260, Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens and Board Policy 7262,
Communicable Disease – Employees). Employees are also required to follow the school
system’s bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan that contains universal precautions and
specific work practice controls relating to the handling, disposal and cleanup of blood and other
potentially infectious materials. Students should not be involved in the handling, disposal and or
cleanup of potential potentially infectious materials. unless the student has been specifically
trained in the handling of such materials and is qualified to perform first aid services. Faculty
should Employees shall take reasonable precautions to avoid allowing students to come in
contact with these substances.
Curriculum
The school district curriculum will include health, hygiene and safety education, as well as in its
curriculum. The curriculum will include age-appropriate information concerning safe health
practices that will inhibit and prevent the spread of diseases, including HIV and AIDS. (See
Board Policy 3540, Family Life Comprehensive Health Education.)
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Reporting and Notice Requirements
In accordance with G.S. 130A-136, school principals will report suspected cases of
communicable diseases, including AIDS, to the county health department. Confidentiality of
such reports is protected by law. School principals are presumed by law to be immune from
liability for making such reports in good faith. Without releasing any information that would
identify the student, the principal also will must report suspected cases of communicable
diseases, including AIDS and HIV infection, to the Superintendent. Additionally, parents or legal
guardians shall be notified in a timely manner when their child has potentially been exposed to a
communicable disease through the exchange of blood with another individual and it shall be
suggested that they will be encouraged to contact their private physician or the county health
department for consultation.
If it has been determined by the local health director determines that there is significant risk of
HIV transmission, that the local health director is responsible for determining deciding which
school personnel will be informed of the identity of a students with AIDS or HIV infection. The
health director is also responsible for determining which school personnel will be informed of
the identity of students with other communicable diseases required to be reported.
Any employee who is informed of or becomes aware of the student’s condition will respect and
maintain that student’s right of privacy and the confidentiality of his or her records and may not
share that information unless specifically permitted to do so by the health director, the student’s
parents or legal guardian or by other applicable state or federal laws or regulations. Permission
from a parent/guardian to share a student’s HIV status with other school personnel must be in
writing. Any documents relating to a student’s HIV or AIDS infection shall be retained in a
locked cabinet separate from the student’s other school records and medical records, and shall be
released or shared only as necessary to comply with this policy. Employees who are informed of
the student’s condition will be provided with appropriate information concerning necessary
precautions and will be made aware of the strict confidentiality requirements. Release of If an
employee releases this type of confidential information or records, except as permitted by law,
the employee will have committed a misdemeanor constitutes a misdemeanor and may be subject
the employee to further discipline.
In order to address the needs of the student within the school environment, school employees
will are required to notify the principal if they are aware or become aware of any students
suffering from a communicable disease other than HIV infection. Parents shall be encouraged to
notify the principal as well.
Students who are immunodeficient, whether due to AIDS or other causes, face an increased risk
of severe complications from exposure to communicable diseases that appear in the school
setting. Although students with an HIV infection are not required to notify school staff of their
HIV status, students and their parents or guardians are encouraged to inform the principal in the
event if a student suffers from any such this immunodeficiency. Students who are
immunodeficient because of other communicable diseases, and their parents, are also encouraged
to inform the principal.
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If notified that a student suffers from such an immunodeficiency, the principal should request
that the notifying party provide information about what types of exposures might put the student
at risk and what reasonable practices can be taken in the school setting to minimize the risk to the
student. Whenever possible, the principal of a school should notify the parents or guardians (or
the student himself where appropriate) of an infected or immunodeficient student (or the student
himself or herself, where appropriate) of about the existence presence of chicken pox, influenza,
meningococcus, measles, tuberculosis or other contagious diseases occurring in the school that
may represent present a serious threat to the student’s health. Students who are removed from
school as a result of such conditions will be provided instruction in a an appropriate alternative
educational setting.
Education/School Attendance for Students with AIDS/HIV Infection
Students with an AIDS and or HIV infection will be permitted to attend school without special
restrictions except in accordance with 15A N.C.A.C. 19A.00201 and 19A.0202 10A N.C.A.C.
41A .0201 - .0204 and this subsection.
When the local health director notifies the Superintendent that a student with AIDS or HIV
infection may pose a significant risk for transmission, the Superintendent, in consultation with
the local health director, will appoint an interdisciplinary committee in accordance with state
health regulations and procedures established by the Superintendent. The committee will consult
with the local health director regarding the risk of transmission and advise the Superintendent
regarding the placement of the student. The committee will include appropriate school system
personnel, medical personnel and the student’s parent or guardian and may include legal counsel.
The parent may request additional participants as necessary to appropriately evaluate the risk.
The health director shall be responsible for determining whether to add additional members that
may be requested by the parents. The Superintendent will inform the Board whenever a
committee has been formed and will advise the Board of the professional composition of the
committee.
The interdisciplinary committee will review each case individually in consultation with the local
health director to determine: (1) the degree to which the student’s conduct or presence in school
exposes others to possible transmission or other harm, and (2) what risk the school environment
may pose to the infected student. If the local health director concludes that a significant risk of
transmission exists in the student’s current placement, the committee must determine whether an
appropriate adjustment can be made to the student’s school program to eliminate this risk. If that
is not possible, the student shall be provided instruction in an appropriate alternative educational
setting which incorporates protective measures required by the local health director.
If the administrative or instructional personnel on the committee determine that the student has
limited strength, vitality or alertness due to a chronic or acute health problem that adversely
affects the student’s educational performance, they must refer the student for possible
identification and placement as a student with special needs.
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All deliberations of the interdisciplinary committee will be kept strictly confidential and shared
only as allowed by law. Any student records related to the deliberations of the committee will be
retained in a locked cabinet separate from the student’s other school records and medical records.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
There will be times when a student with a communicable disease will need to be excluded from
school. When a student is suspected of having one of the following but not limited to this list of
communicable diseases, it is the responsibility of the parent to take the child to the local health
department or physician. The school may require verification of treatment before that student can
return to school.
1. Chickenpox – Student is excluded for at least five (5) days after vesicles appears or until
vesicles become dry.
2. Measles (Rubeola/Rubella), or any fever with rash – Student is excluded from onset of first
symptoms until physician determines that the condition is no longer a communicable disease.
3. Scabies – Student is excluded until one (1) treatment with prescription medication for 12 to 24
hours is completed. Proof of treatment must be provided.
4. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) – Student is excluded until the eye is clear or a health care
provider’s permission to return to school is obtained.
5. Impetigo/MRSA (Methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus) Student is excluded from
school if there is the presence of open, oozing sores and until seen by a physician and treated
with a prescription antibiotic for 24 hours. All open areas that are exposed need to be covered.
6. Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Infections, including Scarlet Fever – Student is excluded
from school at least 24 hours after start of antibiotic therapy and until afebrile.
7. Ringworm of Scalp – Student is excluded until seen by a doctor and proof of treatment is
provided.
8. Mononucleosis – Student is excluded from school if there is presence of a fever or any other
symptom of acute illness.
9. Hepatitis B – Student is excluded from school until physician allows return.
10. Mumps – Student is excluded from school from onset for nine (9) days or until salivary gland
swelling has subsided.
G. HEAD LICE CONTROL Students who have pediculosis capitis (head lice) must be kept out
of school until after application of an effective pediculicide. Students will be allowed up to two
excused absences to secure treatment. All lice must be completely removed to prevent
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reinfestation. Proof of treatment must be given to the principal upon readmission to school.
Several staff members in each school should be trained for identification and follow-up on
identified cases using the procedures and record-keeping documents recommended by school
nurses.
A letter will be sent home to parents of students with head lice and to all parents in a class after 2
concurrent cases are identified.
Information on head lice prevention and control will be included in the Student Handbook for
students in grades PreK-5.
The trained staff members must make a check of all other students in the classes the student with
head lice has attended and of the student’s contacts attending Franklin County Schools.
The principal will review the procedures for the treatment and control of head lice with school
staff and involve the school nurse for assistance as appropriate. Education programs may be
considered for both students and staff.
Prevention and Control of Non-Reportable Communicable Diseases
The school administration makes every effort to reduce the prevalence of disease causing
organisms through assuring cleanliness of the environment, emphasizing frequent hand-washing
of students and staff, and following proper decontamination procedures of items used in
mealtime and other activities. Despite those actions, the school age child is often the source of,
and conduit for, communicable diseases ranging from the “common cold” to ringworm, among
many. The majority of such illnesses are not among the diseases for which the state Division of
Public Health, following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
has issued mandatory isolation rules. Guidelines for exclusion from school for some of the most
common communicable diseases can be found in the Student Handbook issued annually and on
the School Health Program website. These guidelines are based on recommendations from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the North Carolina School Health Program Manual
and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-36, 130A-136, -142 to -144, -152 to -157; 15A N.C.A.C. 9a.0201
through .0204 10A N.C.A.C. 41A .0201 through .0204
Cross References: Family Life Comprehensive Health Education (Policy 3540), Occupational
Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens (Policy 7260), Communicable Diseases – Employees (Policy
7262)
Adopted: 12/13/99
Revised: 09/10/01, 06/13/05, 02/23/09, 03/14/16
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