General Procedures

The following procedures apply in the case of common infectious diseases as listed in the current Infectious Disease Control Guide.

Each incident of a student who is absent from school because he/she is suffering from a communicable disease is to be reported to the school nurse.

All cases of communicable diseases are to be reported to the Health Services Office in a weekly communicable disease report by the nurse.

When symptoms of communicable disease are observed in a student while at school, the regular procedure for the disposition of ill or injured students follows. The principal, program manager, nurse, or designee will:

• call the parents or guardians to advise of the signs and symptoms
• determine when the parent or guardian shall pick up the student
• keep the student isolated until parent or guardian arrives
• notify the principal, program manager, or appropriate administrator of the arrangements that have been made prior to removing the student from school
• contact the local health offices if the disease is reportable

Once the "period of communicability" as defined in the policy has passed, the student should be re-enrolled in school. District health services can be contacted for the time frames associated with each specific condition.

Follow-up suspected communicable disease cases must be carried out in order to determine necessary action in the prevention of additional children/or of adults contracting the contagious disease.

Information concerning a student's present and past health condition shall be treated as confidential.

Procedures Related to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Upon identification of a student by a competent medical authority and in accordance with state regulations as having a life threatening communicable disease, the following procedures apply:

1. The student, or parent/guardian of a student under age fourteen, shall be contacted to ascertain the names of any individuals who may be informed of the student's HIV status. Upon approval by the student or parent/guardian of a student under age fourteen, a review committee shall be formed as follows:
1. The superintendent shall appoint a Review Committee, chaired by his designee, with the responsibility of reviewing and recommending an educational plan for the student diagnosed as having a life threatening communicable disease. Members of the committee shall include:
• superintendent's designee
• medical consultant from Seattle-King County Department of Public Health
• principal of the school in which student is enrolled
• district health specialist assigned to the school where the student is enrolled
• parents/guardians of the student
• private physician of the student
• teacher of the student
2. The Review Committee is responsible for:

1. Determining if the student can remain in his/her assigned classrooms(s) without risk to others.
2. Determining if the student should be removed temporarily from his/her classroom(s) for personal protection when cases of communicable diseases are occurring in the school population.
3. Determining alternative educational instruction necessary if regular classroom placement is not possible because of the health of the afflicted student, i.e., limited strength, vitality or alertness.

3. Confidentiality must be maintained for the protection of the student. Information discussed in the AIDS Review Committee shall only be shared with the supervisor of health services or individuals named by the student or parent/guardian.

Approved:
1/3/89

Revised:
5/7/90, 10/4/93

LEGAL REFS.:
RCW 70.24.105