Health and Wellness

Prevention & Mitigation 

Prevention and early detection is a significant part of any disease mitigation. Galesburg CUSD #205 works closely with the local health department and the local hospitals during times of heightened health concern. The Health Services Team and other staff members play a vital role in identifying illness and following protocols to control possible outbreaks. 

Pursuant to School District Policy 7:160, which states "A student's appearance, including dress and grooming, must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching/learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency", the following are ways you can help optimize your child's health and educational experience:

• Remind your child the technique to proper hand hygiene. 

• Ensure your child is dressed in appropriate clothing related to the current weather. 

• Have your child shower or bathe regularly.

• Remind your child to not share personal belongings (hats, food, drinks, etc.) with others. 

• Remind your child of proper cough and sneeze etiquette. 

We kindly ask that you please be attentive to your child's complaints. Complaints of an itchy scalp or body, pain, persistent nasal congestion, cough, sore throat or unusual interrupted sleep may indicate a health condition that may need medical treatment. 

Students should stay home from school if they have any of the following,

• An oral temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (Note: The child's temperature must remain below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours without benefit of use of fever reducing medication before they can return to school).

• Vomiting - should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Diarrhea - should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Persistent nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, cough or headache that disrupt the student's learning or pose a risk of disease transmission to others. 

• Unexplained skin eruptions or rashes. When in doubt, consult your child's doctor. 

• Communicable illnesses in which you have been advised to remain out of school until cleared to return by the county health department or your child's doctor.  

Head Lice Resources:

Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Required Screenings

• Vision Screening

  • Mandated for children in preschool, kindergarten, second, and eighth grades, children in special education classes, children referred by teachers and transferred children new to the school outside of the district. 

  • Vision screenings are not a substitute for an eye examination

  • If proof of an eye examination has been conducted within the previous 12 months, a vision screening is not required. 

• Hearing Screening

  • Mandated for children in preschool, kindergarten, first, second, and third grades, children in special education classes, children referred by teachers, children with a known hearing problem and transferred children new to the school outside of the district. 

These screenings are conducted by a certified screening technician of the Illinois Department of Public Health. If your child fails the initial screening, a re-screening will be conducted within the following 10-14 days. If your child fails the re-screening, you will be notified indicating need for referral. If your child passed the initial screening or the re-screening, a notification will not be sent as there is no need for referral at that time. Screening is NOT a diagnostic procedure and does NOT determine that correction of a possible defect, glasses or hearing aid is indicated. Diagnoses are made only by an eye doctor. 

**If a religious or medical objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent/guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the school's nurse.