Medication Policy (Board Policy 7:270)
Students should not take medication during school hours or during school-related activities unless it is necessary for a student’s health and well-being. When a student’s licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child and otherwise follow the District’s procedures on dispensing medication.
No School District employee shall administer to any student, or supervise a student’s self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed “School Medication Authorization Form” is submitted by the student’s parent/guardian. No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in this policy and its implementing procedures.
Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.
Medication Administration Procedures
The following procedures will apply to the Districts policy on Administering Medications to Students:
1. The school will only administer prescribed medication necessary for management of diagnosed long-term, chronic illness or disability and ADD/ADHD.
a. Antibiotics and over the counter drugs such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, cough medicine, etc., given for acute, intermittent illness, will NOT be administered by school staff.
2. Before any prescription or long-term over the counter medication will be given at school, a School Authorization for Medication form MUST be completed and signed by both prescribing physician and parents/guardians annually, and be on file in the school office. See #6 below for self-administration/Exception policy on long-term non-prescription medication.
3. All oral prescription medications that are prescribed to be taken during the school day must be brought into the school office, in the original container, by a parent or legal guardian. The medication must be handed to the secretary and parents/guardians must then sign the Medication Refill Sign-in Sheet located in the school office. No Exceptions!
4. All oral prescription medications must be taken in the office, in clear view of the person administering the medication. Exceptions to this will be determined on a case by case basis by the District Nurse and the building administrator. Exceptions may include, but are not limited to: Prescriptions, such as digestive enzymes, for students diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis or other disease processes which directly impact their activities of daily living.
5. The School Nurse or administrator’s designee will return any unused prescription medication to only the parent/guardian at the end of the school year.
6. If your student has a diagnosed condition, such as migraines, that requires long term or chronic need for non-prescription medication that they will self-administer, the parent and diagnosing physician or the District Nurse must sign an Exceptions to Medication form. Medications must be kept in an original, labeled container, and should contain no more than 1 day’s dosage of medication; the student must also keep a copy of the Exceptions form with the medication. If the student is unable to self-administer/manage the medication, a School Authorization for Medication form must be completed by the diagnosing/prescribing physician for the medication to kept in the school office. (see #2 above) The District Nurse and/or principal’s designee will retain the discretion to reject requests that do not meet the medication policy.
Exception to medication form can be found here (Required for all non-prescription meds carried by student for chronic or long term use, including Tylenol or Ibuprofen)
School Authorization for Medication form can be found here (required yearly for all prescription medication that will be taken at school, including EpiPens and inhalers)