FILE: JGCC
STUDENT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
The Catahoula Parish School Board shall require the principal and school nurse to consult as needed with the local health department for specific measures in handling suspected cases of communicable disease. School officials shall cooperate with the local health department which has the discretion to institute appropriate measures to control or eliminate the spread of a disease in the school population. This may include the recommendation for closure of school or exclusion of susceptible person from school.
School employees have a responsibility to advise the principal when a student is suspected of having a communicable disease. The principal or designee shall annually review with staff the procedures to be used for handling a student who is suspected of having a communicable or "nuisance" disease.
A communicable disease shall be defined as a persistent or recurring infection which may be potentially transmitted to a susceptible person by contact with an infected individual.
When reliable evidence or information from a public health officer or physician confirms a student of the School Board has a communicable disease or infection that is known to be spread by any form of casual contact and is considered a health threat to the school population, the Superintendent may exclude such person from school for not more than five (5) days, or the amount of time required by state or local public health officials. Such student shall be excluded unless the public health officer approves school attendance or the condition is no longer contagious.
When reliable evidence or information from a public health officer or physician confirms a student has a communicable disease or infection that is known not to be spread by casual contact, the decision as to whether or not the student will remain in school shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis by a Review Panel to ensure due process.
If the student’s physician and/or a physician of the School Board's choice indicates that the health of the student does not allow his/her continued attendance in the regular education program, education services shall be provided in the setting appropriate to the health status of the child.
Students whose parent/guardian knowingly conceal their child's having a communicable disease shall, upon identification, be suspended from school on an excused absence status, with the opportunity to make-up assignments and graded activities, for a maximum of ten (10) school days, during which time the Superintendent shall determine the student's school attendance status.
Irrespective of the disease presence, routine procedures shall be used and adequate sanitation facilities shall be available for handling blood or body fluids within the school setting or on school buses. School personnel shall be trained in the proper procedures for handling blood and body fluids and these procedures shall be strictly adhered to by all school personnel (see policy GAMFB, Guidelines for Handling Body Fluids in Schools).
REVIEW PANEL
Communicable diseases that are known not to be spread by casual contact shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis by a Review Panel. Membership of the Review Panel, procedures for convening the Review Panel, and the process used to review the case shall be as outlined in Health and Safety, Bulletin 135, Louisiana Department of Education.
The Superintendent shall provide a written decision to the affected party within three (3) operational days (i.e. a day when the School Board Central Office is open for business) after the Review Panel convenes. The written decision shall convey information brought out during the review process and include the rationale for the decision concerning school attendance by the student.
APPEALS
Appeals may be made by the parent or guardian in writing to the Superintendent and subsequently to the School Board as outlined in Health and Safety, Bulletin 135, Louisiana Department of Education. If the written decision of the Superintendent is contrary to the majority opinion of the Review Panel, a majority of the Review Panel has the right to appeal the decision in the same manner as outlined in Bulletin 135.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All persons involved in procedures to assess school attendance of a student with a communicable disease that is not spread by casual contact shall be required to treat all medical information about the student, proceedings, deliberations, and documents as confidential information. Records of the proceedings and the decisions shall be kept by the Superintendent in a sealed envelope with access limited to only those persons receiving the consent of the parent/guardian or infected person, in accordance with state or federal law.
Before any medical information is shared with anyone in the school setting, a “Need to Know” review shall be made which includes the parent/legal guardian, student if age 18 or over, unless the information is required to meet the mandates of federal or state law or regulation, or Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) policy.
LICE
The Catahoula Parish School recognizes the health risk to students and employees from head lice. To prevent widespread infestation of school children, the School Board shall observe the following guidelines in its effort to control lice:
Any student found to have positive evidence of head lice or nits (eggs) shall be excluded from school.
The student shall be excluded from school and school bus until he/she has been effectively treated with a medicated lice shampoo and ALL NITS (eggs) have been removed from hair.
Adequate treatment and removal of all nits (eggs) can be achieved in one to three (3) days. Continued absences because of lice infestation may be referred to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance. After five (5) days per school year the absences due to head lice/nits shall be considered unexcused absences from school.
Designated personnel at the school shall be responsible for checking students to be sure that the hair is free of all lice and nits before readmitting them to school. Students must be accompanied to school by parent, guardian, or responsible party prior to readmission.
The school shall follow the procedure for classroom prevention and control measures for head lice.
After the student has been rechecked by the school nurse or designated personnel, a signed permission slip for reentry must be obtained. The student must present this slip to his/her teacher or principal for re-entry in school.
SCABIES
Any child suspected of having scabies shall be excluded from school and referred for treatment. The child must present a note from a physician stating that he/she has undergone treatment and is not contagious before being allowed to re-enter school.
RINGWORM
Any child suspected of having ringworm shall be excluded from school until twenty-four (24) hours of treatment is completed. A student involved in contact sports shall be excluded from participation until all lesions are healed.
Revised: May, 2006
Revised: October, 2006
Revised: November 3, 2015
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:170
Health and Safety, Bulletin 135, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 03-06-07, 11-3-15
Catahoula Parish School Board