JHCC - STUDENT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The board recognizes the need and right of all children to receive free and appropriate education. The board further recognizes its responsibility to provide a healthy environment for all students and school employees.

Students who are afflicted with a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease and who are infected with communicable parasites, or who are liable to transmit such a disease or parasite, may be excluded from school attendance.

A determination of whether an infected student be excluded from the classroom or school activities shall be made on a case-by-case basis, under the direction of the building administrator or designee.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

In situations where the decision to exclude a student from school attendance requires additional expertise and knowledge, the building administrator will refer the case to an advisory committee for assistance in the decision-making. The advisory committee may be composed of: A representative from the state or county health department; the student’s physician; the student’s parents or guardian(s); the school principal or designee; the school health service’s supervisor; the Superintendent or designee; and primary teacher(s).

In making the determination, the advisory committee shall consider: The characteristics of the contagious disease; the medical condition of the student; the expected type(s) of interaction with others in the school setting; the impact on both the infected student and others in that setting; the South Dakota Department of Health guidelines and policies; the recommendation of the County Health Officer, which may be controlling.

The advisory committee may officially request assistance from the State Department of Health, Center for Disease Control, or other experts.

If it is determined that the student will not be permitted to attend classes or participate in school activities, additional medical information may be needed before the student may return to school. If an infected student is not permitted to attend classes for ten consecutive school days, arrangements will be made to provide an alternate educational program. If that requires personal contact between student and school employees, only trained volunteer employees shall be utilized.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Public information will not be revealed about any student who may be infected. If the student is permitted to remain in the school setting, information will be provided, as appropriate, to school employees who have regular contact with the student, as to the student’s medical condition and other factors needed for consideration in carrying out job responsibilities.

HEALTH GUIDELINES

It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to establish regulations in accordance with this policy. The regulations shall contain infection control practices to be observed within the schools and may include guidelines to be used as a resource in determinations related to school attendance.