FILE: JGCC
STUDENT COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
The Avoyelles Parish School Board recognizes the importance of protecting the health and welfare of the educational system from the spread of communicable diseases, including AIDS.
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 School).
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 School Board authorizes periodic lice screening of students for the purpose of identifying and excluding from school any student found to be infested with head lice. The nurse shall supervise screening procedures within each school.
The responsibility of the parent is to adhere to stated lice control measures, and to return the child to school lice-free and nit-free, within a specified length of time. The principal may authorize an extension of the excused absence period when conditions warrant.
The following guidelines shall be adhered to in the control of head lice in Avoyelles Parish schools:
Any student found to have positive evidence of head lice shall be sent home that day of school,
The student shall be excluded from school one (1) day excused for treatment and removal of lice.
Adequate treatment and removal of all nits can be achieved within one (1) day. Any day(s) beyond one (1) day shall be counted as an unexcused absence(s) on an incident by incident basis. The principal may authorize an extension of the excused absence period when conditions warrant.
If a student is found with just nits (eggs), they will remain at school. A letter will be sent home with the child informing the parent of the findings. It will also include proper treatment and removal instructions.
A classroom will be checked only if three (3) or more students in the classroom have been found to have lice/nits.
Designated personnel at the school shall be responsible for checking students to be certain that hair is free of all lice before readmittance to school. A student must be accompanied to school by his/her parent, guardian, or responsible party prior to readmission.
Revised: November 3, 2015
Revised: May 7, 2019
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:170
Health and Safety, Bulletin 135, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 2-3-98, 11-3-15, 5-7-19
Avoyelles Parish School Board