Health

Illness Policy

Please remember that any student that has had a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher, diarrhea or vomiting must be symptom free without the aid of medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. If your student is sent home from school with any of these symptoms, they may not return to school the next day. A phone call to the school is still required for every day that your child is home sick.

Medical Issue

If a student has a medical issue (cast, recent surgery, stitches, brace, sling, etc.) a medical plan needs to be developed with the nurse.

1. Please notify the Nurse if a student has a medical issue.

2. The nurse will contact the parents to develop a medical plan.

3. The medical plan will be shared with appropriate staff.

Medication Policy

Medications, either non-prescriptive or prescriptive, may be administered at school, but there are limitations that we place on procedures and practices.

Students may not carry any medication, with the exception of inhalers or epinephrine injectors with the proper forms on file, including cough drops or lozenges, nor keep medication in their lockers or backpacks. Medications (prescriptive or non-prescriptive) must be sent to the school office for safekeeping.  We require:

1. An order from a physician must accompany each prescription and non-prescription medication indicating dosage, time to be given, and possible side effects.

2. Prescription medication must come to school in a pharmacy issued container with a pharmacy label.

3. Non-prescription medication must come in the original container with an intact label and must have the student’s first and last name.

4. A parent authorization form must be submitted for each medication.

The Authorization and Permission for Administration of Medication form can be found on the District website. The school does have a full-time nurse to either administer or remind students to come to the office to take medication.  But we ask that parents:

1. Train their students on the proper procedures for taking medicine.

2. Instruct their students concerning the time of the day that they should take their medicine.

It is important that parents work with their physician and the school to see that their children are properly medicated when needed. The School District shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication or epinephrine or the storage of any medication by school personnel. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.

The school will not keep medications over the summer months. In June, all medications that have not been picked up by parents are destroyed. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school nurse.

The medication policy is distributed to parents or guardians of each pupil within 15 days of student enrollment. (104B)

Health Examination

A student's parents/guardians shall present proof that the student received a health examination, with proof of the immunizations against, and screenings for, preventable communicable diseases, as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), within one year prior to: 

     1. Entering kindergarten or the first grade; 

     2. Entering the sixth grade; and 

     3. Enrolling in an Illinois school, regardless of the student's grade (including nursery school, special education, Head Start programs operated by  

         elementary or secondary schools, and students transferring into Illinois from out-of-state or out of-country). 

Proof of immunization against meningococcal disease is required for students in grade 6.

Eye Examination

Parents/guardians are encouraged to have their children undergo an eye examination whenever health examinations are required. Parents/guardians of students entering kindergarten or an Illinois school for the first time shall present proof before October 15 of the current school year that the student received an eye examination within one year prior to entry of kindergarten or the school. A physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist must perform the required eye examination. If a student fails to present proof by October 15, the school may hold the student's report card until the student presents proof: 

(1) of a completed eye examination, or (2) that an eye examination will take place within 60 days after October 15. 

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this eye examination requirement in compliance with the rules of the IDPH. Schools shall not exclude a student from attending school due to failure to obtain an eye examination.

Dental Examination

All children in kindergarten and the second and sixth grades must present proof of having been examined by a licensed dentist before May 15 of the current school year in accordance with rules adopted by the IDPH. If a child in the second or sixth grade fails to present proof by May 15, the school may hold the child's report card until the child presents proof: 

(1) of a completed dental examination, or (2) that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this dental examination requirement at least 60 days before May 15 of each school year.

Exemptions

In accordance with rules adopted by the IDPH, a student will be exempted from this policy's requirements for: 

1. Religious grounds, if the student's parents/guardians present the IDPH's Certificate of Religious Exemption form to the Superintendent or designee. When a Certificate of Religious Exemption form is presented, the Superintendent or designee shall immediately inform the parents/guardians of exclusion procedures pursuant to Board policy 7:280, Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease, and State rules if there is an outbreak of one or more diseases from which the student is not protected. 

2. Health examination or immunization requirements on medical grounds, if the examining physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant provides written verification. 

3. Eye examination requirement, if the student's parents/guardians show an undue burden or lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or a licensed optometrist. 

4. Dental examination requirement, if the student's parents/guardians show an undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist.

Exemption from Physical Education

In order to be excused from participation in physical education, a student must present an appropriate excuse from their parent/guardian or from a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act. The excuse may be based on medical or religious prohibitions. An excuse because of medical reasons must include a signed statement from a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act that corroborates the medical reason for the request. An excuse based on religious reasons must include a signed statement from a member of the clergy that corroborates the religious reason for the request. Upon written notice from a student’s parent/guardian, to the student’s school principal or designee, a student will be excused from engaging in the physical activity components of physical education during a period of religious fasting.

Special activities in physical education will be provided for students whose physical or emotional condition, as determined by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act, prevents their participation in the physical education courses.

State law prohibits the Board from honoring parental excuses based upon a student’s participation in athletic training, activities, or competitions conducted outside the auspices of the School District.

A student who is eligible for special education may be excused from physical education courses in either of the following situations:

1. The student (a) is in grades 3-8, (b) the student’s IEP requires that special education support and services be provided during physical education time, and (c) the parent/guardian agrees or the IEP team makes the determination; or

2. The student (a) has an IEP, (b) is participating in an adaptive athletic program outside of the school setting, and (c) the parent/guardian documents the student’s participation as required by the Superintendent or designee.

The district excuses pupils in grades 3-8 from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils must utilize the time set aside for physical education to receive special education support and services.

A student requiring adapted physical education must receive that service in accordance with the student’s Individualized Educational Program/Plan (IEP).

The superintendent or designee shall maintain records showing that the criteria set forth in this policy were applied to the student’s individual circumstances, as appropriate.

Students who have been excused from physical education shall return to the course as soon as practical. The following considerations will be used to determine when a student shall return to a physical education course:

1. The time of year when the student’s participation ceases; and

2. The student’s class schedule.

Concussions/Head Injuries

The superintendent shall develop and implement a program to manage concussions and head injuries suffered by students. The program shall” 

1. Fully implementation of the Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act (YSCSA), that provides, without limitation, each of the following: 

   1. The board must appoint or approve members of a Concussion Oversight Team for the District. 

   2. The Concussion Oversight Team shall establish each of the following based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: 

      1. A return-to-play protocol governing a student’s return to interscholastic athletics practice or competition following a force of impact believed to have caused a concussion. The Superintendent or designee shall supervise an athletic trainer or other person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play protocol. 

      2. A return-to-learn protocol governing a student’s return to the classroom following a force of impact believed to have caused a concussion. The Superintendent or designee shall supervise the person responsible for compliance with the return-to-learn protocol. 

   3. Each student and the student’s parent/guardian shall be required to sign a concussion information receipt form each school year before participating in an interscholastic athletic activity. (7:305)