Illness Guidelines – When You Can Return to School

illness guidelines – When you can return to school

      1. Fever/chills/generalized body aches – May return when temperature is below 100.4 F for 24-hours without fever reducing medication.
      2. Undiagnosed rash, especially if visibly spreading, oozing, or accompanied by an elevated temperature – May return once determined non-contagious by a physician. Physician guidelines for return must be followed.
      3. Eye discharge, crust, or bright redness of sclera (white of eye) – May return after evaluation by physician with return to school note and if indicated, 24–hours of antibiotic treatment.
      4. Vomiting or diarrhea – May return once 24-hours symptom free without the use of medication.
      5. Lice – Stay home and treat if bugs are present or nits are within 1/4″ of scalp (see Head Lice Policy below).
      6. Bedbugs – Students who bring bedbugs to school will be excluded and put on Bedbug Protocol (see below).
      7. Accident / injury – Students returning to school after an orthopedic injury or another injury requiring medical intervention should bring doctor’s orders regarding follow-up care to the school clinic upon return.

LAST EDITED 02/22/2022

Medications at School

We are here to assist students with their medical needs. Parents/ guardians must furnish all medications, although every clinic has stock epinephrine and stock albuterol to administer in the event of an emergency. For grades pre-K through 8, a parent/guardian must transport medications to and from school. All medications are kept in locked cabinets in the clinic and are dispensed only as prescribed.

For the 2022-23 school year, we are not accepting nebulizer breathing treatments, unless it’s a special exception. Please contact your school nurse if you think your child should receive a nebulizer breathing treatment at school. These treatments can aerosolize respiratory droplets, which could potentially spread COVID-19. If a nebulizer treatment is medically necessary, there will be stringent guidelines in place. Otherwise, please bring a multi-dose inhaler (MDI) to the clinic for your child.

Per Indiana code 34-30-14, when a student takes a medication at school, the clinic must have the following items in place before any medication can be administered:

  • Parents must submit a medication consent form for school staff to administer the medication. Click here to download this form. Medication will not be dispensed without this written consent signed by the parent/guardian.
  • All medications must be in original containers and must be current (check expiration date).
  • Prescription medications must be in their original container with the prescription clearly written with the child’s name, the name and dosage of the medication, along with the time and amount to be administered.
  • Over-the-counter medications must be in the original container, and must have the dosing information on the package. The dosage must be appropriate for the weight and age of the child, and the parent/guardian must sign the “Authorization for Medication” form for us to administer it. If your child requires a dose larger than recommended for their age and weight on the package insert, you will need a doctor’s order for us to administer that dose.
  • Asthma inhalers must be brought to school in their original boxes with the prescription on the outside of the box. If the student is on nebulizer medications, we have nebulizer machines in our clinics. You will need to furnish the nebulizer vials in their original box with prescription label affixed, along with the tubing and the nebulizer chamber for your child.

Head Lice Policy (Pediculosis)

  • Click here for a parent head lice treatment checklist.
  • Students will be excluded from school upon confirmation of active head lice (crawling bugs) or the presence of nits (eggs) closer than ½” to the scalp per Perry Township School Board policy 5330.02.
  • This policy is consistent with research by the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Education, American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Association of School Nurses.
  • Students who are suspected of carrying head lice (due to excessive scratching or evidence of live bugs) shall be evaluated by the school nurse or an alternate person designated by the principal to check students. The student’s privacy regarding this matter will be respected and maintained as much as possible.
  • A student identified to have live lice anywhere on the head, shoulders, clothing, or nits in his/her hair closer than ½” to the scalp will be sent home from school to receive treatment. All lice and any nits closer than ½” to the scalp must be removed before returning to school. Nits farther than ½” from the scalp are not considered viable and do not merit exclusion from the classroom. Parents of students with lice will be notified and information will be provided regarding head lice, along with effective treatment options.
  • Students are to be accompanied by a parent or guardian upon returning to school. Before entering the classroom, the school nurse or designated person will check the student and either release him/her to class or instruct the student to return home for further treatment based on the aforementioned criteria.

Bedbug Protocol

If a student has a rash consistent with bedbug bites or brings a bedbug to school on their person or in their belongings, the following steps will be taken:

  • Clinic will notify the parent/guardian of suspected issue and asks parent about bedbug infestation.
  • If bedbugs are probable or confirmed, clinic notifies any schools where siblings attend so they can check siblings for bug bites.
  • Clinic will notify a Perry Township social worker of suspected bedbugs.
  • When indicated: a) Home visit will be completed by social worker if communication with family at school or via telephone has been unsuccessful; b) Resources provided to family if needed; c) Social worker will work with Marion County Public Health Department to help eradicate infestation.
  • Every morning until issue is resolved (bites healed and no new bites found), student visits clinic before school to be checked for live bugs/new bites and student’s belongings are isolated in a plastic bag or sealed container until problem in student’s home has been resolved.
  • If a student brings a bug to school, he/she will be sent home.

Exclusion guidelines:

  • If possible, school will save the insect in a sealed container or bag for inspection.
  • Parent of excluded student will receive written information with a description of a bedbug infestation and recommendations for extermination by a licensed professional.
  • Clinic will notify transportation and custodial staff that a bedbug was found on student, so inspection of facilities can occur and appropriate cleaning measures can be taken.
  • A sibling of an excluded student will not be sent home unless he/she also brings a bug to school.
  • Student can return to school as determined by building principal.
  • These guidelines are in compliance with IC 20-34-3-9 that states a student may be removed from school “…If student is ill, has a communicable disease, or is infested with parasites.”

* This procedure was informed by research obtained from Indiana State Department of Health and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

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