04. Health & Medical Information

Accommodating Students with Diabetes

(Refer BOE Policy JGFGBB)

Self-care of diabetes may be allowed for students in grades K-12. To be eligible, a student shall meet all requirements of this policy. Parents or guardians shall submit a written diabetes management and treatment plan from the student’s health care provider. The student shall provide written authorization from the student’s health care provider and parent or guardian stating the student has been instructed on managing and caring for their diabetes and is authorized to do so in school. An annual written renewal of parental authorization for the self-care of diabetes shall be required. While at school, each student capable of managing and caring for the student’s diabetes will be allowed to: 

● Perform blood glucose level check

● Administer insulin through the delivery system the student uses

● Treat hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia,

● Possess the supplies or equipment necessary to monitor and care for their diabetes, and

● Otherwise attend to the management and care of the student’s diabetes in the classroom, in any area of the school, on school grounds, or at any school-related activity.

Notwithstanding the above, the district reserves the right to put reasonable place and manner procedural safeguards in place for the safe and nondisruptive exercise of such rights by students with diabetes.

Immunizations 

(Refer to BOE policy JGCB and JDDAA) 

All students enrolling in any district school shall provide the building principal with proof of immunization of certain diseases or furnish documents to satisfy statutory requirements. Booster shots required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Environment are also required. Students who fail to provide the documentation required by law may be excluded from school until statutory requirements are satisfied. Notice of exclusion shall be given to the parents/guardians as prescribed by law. Students who are not immunized against a particular disease(s) may be excluded from school during any outbreak. 

Medication Policy 

Students are not allowed to have any medications with them or in their lockers without a valid prescription. If prescription medications are needed during school hours, a physician’s written order and a parent note and signature are required. If a student needs over-the-counter medication only a parent note and signature are required. These medication release forms are available at school. The medication must be left in the nurse’s office and be in its original container. Parents may also choose to come to the school and administer medication.

Student self-administration of medication is allowed. Refer to BOE Policy JGFGBA. The self-administration of medication is allowed for eligible students in grades K–12. As used in this policy medication means medicine for the treatment of anaphylaxis or asthma including, but not limited to, any medicine defined in current federal regulation as an inhaled bronchodilator or auto-injectable epinephrine. Self-administration is the student’s discretionary use of approved medication for which the student has a prescription or written direction from a health care provider.

Students with diabetes are eligible for self-care according to district policies.

Student Misuse of Medication  (Refer to BOE Policy JDDAA)

Unless otherwise provided herein, students found to be self-administering their own medication at a dosage or rate exceeding product label instructions; distributing over-the-counter or prescription medications to other students; or using or possessing another person's over-the-counter or prescription medication may result in denial of the privilege to self-administer any medication and will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension and expulsion from school. 

Authorization Required

Health care providers shall prepare a written treatment plan for managing the student’s asthma or chronic potential life-threatening diagnoses (i.e. asthma, anaphylaxis, seizures) and for medication used by the student during school hours. The student’s parent or guardian shall annually complete and submit to the school any written documentation required by the school, including the treatment plan prepared by the student’s health care provider. Permission forms shall be updated during enrollment/or as needed throughout the year.

Reporting Accidents 

(Refer to Board Policy JGFG) 

If a student has been involved in an accident at school, on school property or at a school-sponsored event, staff members shall follow the rules for the care of an injured student and report the accident to the building principal. If a student has an accident which appears to require medical treatment, an employee shall send for medical help and to make the student as comfortable as possible while waiting for medical assistance to arrive. When appropriate, the student's parent(s) shall be notified of the injury as soon as possible to determine appropriate action. If the student needs medical attention and the parents cannot be reached, the principal shall seek emergency medical treatment. 

Emergency Care - At the scene of an emergency or accident when medical help is not readily available to assist in the care of an injured student, an employee may render emergency care or assistance. 

Insurance 

(Refer to Board Policy JGA) 

We encourage all families to have accident coverage on their children prior to any sports or school-sponsored activity. All schools have brochures and applications for a student insurance program. During enrollment, parents receive information on the optional student insurance program. If parents choose not to purchase the insurance, they are to submit the Parental Insurance Waiver. In addition, schools have information and applications for HealthWave. HealthWave is an insurance program for children in families with limited income that provides insurance at little or no cost. 

Communicable Diseases 

(Refer to BOE policy JGCC) 

Any student noted by a physician, the school nurse, or local health officer as having a communicable disease may be excluded from school for the duration of the illness. The student will be readmitted to regular classes upon termination of the illness, as authorized by the student’s physician, the local health officer, or after the expiration of any period of isolation or quarantine. 

The board reserves the right to require a written statement from the student’s physician or local health officer indicating that the student is free from all symptoms of the disease. 

If a student is absent from regular classes for more than three consecutive days or the principal has been notified that a student has or is suspected of having a communicable disease, the principal shall determine whether a release shall be obtained from the student's physician or local health department before the student re-enters school. 

Physical Examinations

(Refer to BOE Policy JGC)

All students (grades 9-12) entering the school district for the first time should provide evidence of a physical examination that has been completed sometime during their school career. Students who have not completed a physical examination by the first day of school should provide evidence that an appointment has been made for the physical. A student who has not met the requirements for the completion of the physical may be excluded from school. These absences will be considered unexcused and will be subject to truancy laws. Nonparticipation in this class may affect the grade earned.

All students participating in interscholastic athletics, dance team, and cheerleading are required to provide the building principal with evidence of a physical examination prior to participation. These physicals must be given after May 1 to meet the requirements for interscholastic participation the following school year. Students will not be allowed to participate in interscholastic athletics, dance team, or cheerleading until the completed form is presented to the principal. A medical doctor, an osteopath or a chiropractor must sign the physical examination form.

Student Health Screenings (Refer to board policy JGCD)

In Accordance to KS 72-6229, KS 72-6242, and KS 72-6251, free vision, hearing and dental screenings will be conducted throughout the school year based on the state’s required schedule.

Supervision of Medications (Refer to Board Policy JGFGB)

In certain circumstances when medication is necessary in order that the student remains in school, the school may cooperate with parents in the supervision of medication that the student will use. However, the medical person authorized to prescribe medication or the parent if it is a non-prescription medication must send a written order to the building administrator or designee who may supervise the administration of the medication or treatment. The parents must submit a written request to the building administrator or designee requesting the school’s cooperation in such supervision and releasing the school district and personnel from liability. School personnel shall not be required to be custodians of any medication except as required by a written order of a licensed medical person or in the case of nonprescription medication when requested in writing by the parents. The medication shall be examined by the school employee administering the medication to determine that it appears to be in the original container, to be properly labeled and to be properly authorized by the written order of licensed medical personnel. Two containers, one for home and one for school should be requested from the pharmacist. Any changes in the type of drugs, dosage and/or time of administration should be accompanied by a new physician and parent permission signatures and a newly labeled pharmacy container.

All medication maintained in the school setting should be kept in a locked container. This includes medication requiring refrigeration. Medications should be inventoried every semester. Out-of-date stock should be returned to the parent or destroyed.

Over-the-counter medications should not be maintained on any school premises, including athletic areas, unless written parent permission to administer is obtained. The building administrator may choose to discontinue the administration of medication provided that the parents or medical personnel are notified in advance of the date and the reasons for the discontinuance. In the administration of medication, the school employee shall not be deemed to have assumed any legal responsibility other than acting as a duly authorized employee of the school district.

Other Health Considerations 

If a student has a fever (Emporia nursing standard is 100 degrees or greater), his/her temperature must be normal for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen) before returning to school. Typically, if a student is vomiting or has diarrhea, they need to stay home until it has been 24 hours since those symptoms have passed. At times there are exceptions to this rule. Please reach out to your health office staff to assess special circumstances. The parent of a child who has head lice will be contacted and given evidence-based treatment options.