Communicable Diseases

Communicable Diseases

The New Franklin R-I School District School Board recognizes its responsibility to protect the health of students and employees from the risks posed by communicable diseases. The Board also has a responsibility to protect individual privacy, educate all students regardless of medical condition and treat students and  employees in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Immunization

In accordance with law, students cannot attend school without providing satisfactory evidence of immunization, unless they are exempted from immunization .

Universal Precautions

The district requires all staff to routinely employ universal precautions to prevent exposure to disease-causing organisms. The district will provide the necessary equipment and supplies to implement universal precautions.

Categories of Potential Risk

Students or employees with communicable diseases that pose a risk of transmission in school or at school activities (such as, but not limited to, chicken pox, influenza and conjunctivitis) will be managed as required by law and in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and local county or city health departments. Such management may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from school or reassignment as needed for the health and safety of students and staff.

Students or employees infected with chronic communicable diseases that do not pose a risk of transmission in school or at school activities (such as, but not limited to, hepatitis B virus or HIV)shall be allowed to attend school or continue to work without any restrictions based solely on the infection. The district will not require any medical evaluations or tests for such diseases.

Exceptional Situations

There are certain specific types of conditions, such as frequent bleeding episodes or uncoverable, oozing, skin lesions that could potentially be associated with transmission of both blood borne and non-bloodborne pathogens. In the case of students, certain types of behaviors, such as biting or scratching, may also be associated with transmission of pathogens.

Students who exhibit such behaviors or conditions may be educated in an alternative educational setting or, if appropriate, disciplined in accordance with the discipline code. In the case of a student with a disability, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team or 504 team will make any change of placement decisions.

Employees who exhibit such conditions will not be allowed to work until the condition is resolved or appropriately controlled in a way that minimizes exposure.

Confidentiality

The superintendent or designee shall ensure that confidential student and employee information is protected in accordance with law. Medical information about an individual, including an individual with HIV, will only be shared with district employees who have a reasonable need to know the identity of the individual in order to provide proper health care or educational services. Examples of people who may need to know a student's medical information are the school nurse and the IBP or 504 team if applicable. An example of an individual who may need to know an employee's medical information is the employee's immediate supervisor, if accommodations are necessary.

All medical records will be maintained in accordance with law and Board policy. Breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action, including termination.

Reporting and Disease Outbreak Control

Reporting and disease outbreak control measures will be implemented in accordance with state and local law, DHSS rules governing the control of communicable diseases and other diseases dangerous to public health, and any applicable rules distributed by the appropriate county or city health department.

Notification

Missouri state law provides that superintendents who supply a copy of this policy, adopted by the district Board of Education, to DHSS shall be entitled to confidential notice of the identity of any district student reported to DHSS as HIV-infected and known to be enrolled in the district. Missouri law also requires the parent or guardian to provide such notice to the superintendent .

Adopted:         July 12, 2006

Revised:

Cross Refs:     GBE, Staff Health and Safety

Legal Refs:    §§ 167.181, .183, .191, 191.650 - .695, 210.003, RSMo.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § § 1400 - 1487 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794 Americans withDisabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § § 12101 - 12213

New Franklin R-I School District, New Franklin, Missouri