Students with a communicable disease will be allowed to attend school provided their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to other students or employees. The term "communicable disease" will mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.
A student will be excluded from school when the student's condition has been determined to be injurious to the health of others or when the student is too ill to attend school. The health risk to an immuno-depressed student attending school shall be determined by the student's personal physician. The health risk to others in the school environment from the presence of a student with a communicable disease shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the student's physician and a physician selected by the school district or public health officials.
Since there may be greater risks of transmission of a communicable disease for some persons with certain conditions than for other persons infected with the same disease, these special conditions shall be considered in assessing the student’s continued attendance at school: the risk of transmission of the disease, the effect upon the educational program, the effect upon the student, and other factors deemed relevant by public health officials or the superintendent. The superintendent may require medical evidence that students with a communicable disease are able to attend school.
Prevention and control of communicable diseases is included in the district's bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan. The procedures will include scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance, universal precautions, vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, follow-up, communication of hazards to employees, and record keeping. This plan will be reviewed annually by the superintendent and school nurse.
A student shall notify the superintendent or the school nurse when the student learns the student has a communicable disease. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, when the superintendent or school nurse, upon investigation, has knowledge that a reportable communicable disease is present, to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health. Health data of a student is confidential and is shall not be disclosed to third parties, except in cases of reportable communicable diseases.
Approved: 10/16/14
Reviewed: FY 2015-2016, March 14, 2016, May 24,2021
Revised: 02/24/17