District School Handbook Illness Statement

Illness

When a child becomes too ill to participate in regular activities or shows symptoms of a contagious disease, parents will be contacted to take their child home. If the parent cannot be reached, the emergency contact person(s) will be called to take the child home. Any child experiencing the following symptoms will be sent home:  

• Severely ill: A child that is lethargic or less responsive, has difficulty breathing, or has a rapidly spreading rash. 
• Fever: A child with a temperature of 100°F or greater. 
• Diarrhea: A child has two loose or watery stools. 
• Vomiting. 
• Abdominal pain: A child with abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent pain associated with fever or other symptoms. 
• Rash: The child with a rash AND has a fever or a change in behavior. 
• Skin sores: A child with weeping sores on an exposed area that cannot be covered with a waterproof dressing. 

Returning to school after an illness: Your child should remain at home until the contagious period of an illness has ended. This is for the health and safety of all the children. Your child may return if: 

1. There have been no symptoms of illness for 24 hours (without the use of medication) 
2. The child has been on prescribed medication, such as antibiotics, for at least 24 hours. 
3. A physician’s statement is provided verifying that the student is no longer contagious. 

Communicable Disease

In order to protect the health and safety of the students, District personnel, and the community at large, the Board shall follow all State statutes and Health Department regulations which pertain to immunization and other means for controlling casual-contact communicable disease spread through normal interaction in the school setting.

If a student exhibits symptoms of a communicable disease, the principal will isolate the student in the building and contact the parents/guardians. Protocols established by the County Health Department shall be followed.

*Further information can be found in CPPS Board Policy 8450

Accident/Injury

Students are directed to report any injury or illness to the supervising staff member. Parents will be notified upon accident, injury or illness if necessary.

If a child needs serious, immediate medical attention, the school will contact 911, our Medical Emergency Response Team and the parent and/or emergency contacts. 

Head Lice

If live lice are found, the school will call parents and notify them of head lice and the procedures to follow. Treatment that evening, and return to school the next scheduled day is recommended. Immediate removal of the child from school is unnecessary. Students are allowed to ride the bus home and to school the next day. At the most, a student should not miss more than one school day.

The student with suspected head lice should be discreetly restricted from activities involving close personal contact (e.g. hugging and team sports) and reminded not to share personal items, such as headphones. Outerwear should be segregated from that of others.

The informational letter, “Lice Found on Child”, will be sent home with the student.

If there are several cases in the same classroom, the principal may choose to send a letter to all classmates’ parents, asking them to check and treat all of their children as necessary.

*Further information can be found in CPPS Administrative Guideline 8450A

Medications

Comstock Park Board of Education Policy states that if a child is required to take medication during school hours and the parent is not able to be at school to administer the medication, authorized staff who have completed the necessary training, in the presence of another adult, will administer the medication in compliance with the instructions of a physician (as indicated on the prescription label), or the written instructions of the parent/guardians of the medication is non-prescriptive (within manufacturer and FDA approved medication usage).

The parent/guardian must bring the medication to school in its original container labeled by the pharmacy or manufacturer. Medication is kept in the office. No medication is to be kept by a student. The only exception to this being metered dose inhalers for the treatment of asthma, or emergency medications such as Epinephrine. Students who provide the school with written permission from their doctor and an emergency plan may self-possess their medication.

The parent/guardian must complete appropriate forms authorizing the school to administer medication. The parent/guardian will assume responsibility of informing the principal or district nurse of any changes in the student’s health or medication.

The school district retains the right to reject requests for administering medication to a child.

*Further information can be found in Board Policy 5330.