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Tag: Diseases

Published on
  • Effective: 4/29/1986
  • Revision: 2/25/2014
  1. Board Directive
    The Board recognizes  that staff and students may come in contact with bloodborne pathogens and/or communicable diseases during the school day and delegates the responsibility for developing appropriate policy for the protection of staff and students.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The Administration authorizes the following administrative policy provisions for protection from bloodborne pathogens to staff and students:

    1. Bloodborne Pathogens 
      Since body fluids may contain a variety of potentially infectious organisms, it is important for all school personnel to know how to clean them up properly to prevent the spread of infection to students, other school personnel, and to themselves.

      1. All employees of Jordan School District are required to participate in annual instruction in using Universal Precautions when dealing with cleanup of all blood or body fluids.
      2. The Universal Precautions must be observed in the cleanup of all blood or body fluids.  All employees will treat all blood and body fluids as if known to be infected with HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens.
    2. Communicable Diseases
      Communicable diseases are a leading cause of childhood morbidity and school absences.  Students and staff with communicable diseases, which can be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another, require special consideration in the school setting.  The transmission of infectious disease may be prevented by all school staff using procedures of effective infection control.  In the school environment, the risk of exposure can be unpredictable, thus control measure that are simple and uniform across all situations have the greatest likelihood of compliance and success.

      1. The spread of infectious disease can be prevented or deterred if students and staff adhere to basic principles of good personal hygiene, cleanliness, and recommended use of any necessary personal protective measures.
      2. Schools are legally authorized to prohibit school attendance by students, if necessary, to prevent the spread of contagious disease.
      3. Case management will inhibit the spread of contagious illness in school and minimize excessive absences.  Activities include:
        1. Identification
        2. Potential exclusion of students and staff with communicable diseases.
        3. Appropriate follow-up to ensure treatments and prompt readmission to school.
      4. The state health agency is responsible for initiating measures to suppress or prevent the spread of disease and for implementing regulation relating to quarantine, isolation, and other control measures to protect the public.
      5. Children with chronic infectious disease are entitled to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.  If a student will be absent from school due to an infectious disease, reasonable accommodation, which may include Home and Hospital program services, could be appropriate.
      6. Persons with suppressed immune systems run a higher than normal risk of severe complications from common communicable illnesses.
        1. Students with a suppressed immune system may need to be temporarily excluded from school when there is an outbreak of a communicable disease for their own protection.
        2. Students with a suppressed immune system should have an individual health care plan in place with specific guidelines that will be implemented in the event of an outbreak.
        3. The decision to exclude the student from school should be made by the District nurse in conjunction with the student’s parent(s), physician and local health department when necessary.
      7. The District nurses are responsible for providing schools with exclusion protocol.  The assigned District nurse is responsible to provide in-service education for the individual needs.
    3. Management of a Communicable Disease Program  
      Regardless of the specific disease, certain elements are critical to the management of a communicable disease program.

      1. All employees, including those with chronic infectious diseases, have a right to confidentiality and access to employment as well as other rights, privileges, and services provided by federal and state laws.
      2. All children, including those with chronic infectious diseases, have a right to confidentiality and a free and appropriate public education.  Students with chronic infectious diseases are eligible for all rights, privileges, and services provided by federal and state laws.
      3. Measures to isolate students with chronic infectious diseases are usually not necessary.  Irrational fears related to chronic infectious diseases can be mitigated through planned health education programs for school staff, students, and parents.  Education programs should include information regarding the mode of transmission and the methods of preventing the transmission of infectious diseases.
      4. The school should respect the right to privacy of the individual.  If a student has an infectious disease, such knowledge should be confined to those persons with a direct need to know.
        1. Those persons who are informed of the identity of an infected child should be made aware of confidentiality requirements.
        2. The identity of an individual with an infectious disease should not be revealed except as required by law for reporting purposes.
        3. Health records should be confidential.
      5. A student should never be discriminated against because of an infectious disease.
      6. In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, in cooperation with the local department of health, all susceptible students (i.e., students with medical or religious exemption from immunization) must be excluded or immunized.
    4. Management by District Nurses
      Jordan School District nurses are the most appropriate persons to coordinate with the local health department.  They should be responsible for instituting measures to prevent or control the spread of communicable diseases.  Their knowledge and judgment are essential for the collection and interpretation of data related to infectious disease.  Jordan School District nurses should:

      1. Participate in the development and revision of infectious disease policies and procedures, and consult with local or state health department personnel as needed.
      2. Interpret infectious disease policies and procedures to school personnel, parents and students.
      3. Provide health information, and in-service programs regarding infectious diseases.
      4. Promote positive health practices for the school community.
      5. Develop individual health care plans for students with chronic infectious diseases.
      6. Recommend modification of the school program for infected students as needed.
      7. Monitor and assess students with infectious diseases
      8. Monitor and assess the school environment for the effective infection control standards.
      9. Make recommendations for purchase of proper equipment and supplies.
      10. Serve as an advocate for students with infectious diseases.
      11. Act as a liaison between the school, home, and medical/health agencies for the students with infectious diseases.
      12. Keep up with current information, rules and regulation, policies, and procedures related to infectious disease.

Published on
  • Effective: 6/28/1977
  • Revision: 2/25/2014
  1. Board Directive
    The Board recognizes that maintaining a high level of immunization among the students contributes to the health and well-being of the total community.  Therefore, the Board authorizes the Administration to establish immunization screening procedures and to exclude from school those students who are not either immunized or exempted as required by Utah Code Ann. §53G-9-302  et seq. and any applicable Utah Department of Health rules.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The Administration shall be responsible for establishing policy by which the level of immunization of all students can be determined and appropriate action can be taken in cases where immunization levels do not comply with the law.

    1. Local schools shall be responsible to monitor the immunization records and compliance of all students.  District nurses shall serve as advisers to the school in this process.
    2. A student may not enter school without a certificate of immunization from a licensed physician or authorized representative of the state or local health department stating that the student has received immunization against communicable diseases as required by rules adopted by the Utah Department of Health unless the student qualifies for a conditional enrollment or an exemption from immunization as follows:
      1. Conditional Enrollment
        A student who at the time of school enrollment has not been completely immunized against each disease specified by the Utah Department of Health may attend school under a conditional enrollment if the student has received one dose of each specified vaccine prior to enrollment and is on schedule for subsequent immunizations.  A military child, as defined in Utah Code §53E-3-903, shall be given 30 days from the day of enrollment to receive one dose of each specified vaccine and to be on schedule for subsequent immunizations.  If subsequent immunizations are one calendar month past due, the student may no longer be conditionally enrolled and shall be excluded from school (Utah Department of Health Rule 396-100-7).  The student's parent, guardian, a legal-age brother or sister of a student who is without parent or guardian, or the student if of legal age shall ensure that immunizations are completed on schedule and provide satisfactory evidence to the school that the student's immunization has been obtained.

        1. Conditional Enrollment Review
          The immunization status of those students enrolled conditionally shall be reviewed by the school every 30 days to ensure conformed compliance (Utah Department of Health Rule 396-100-7).
        2. Exclusion of Conditionally Enrolled Students
          Students enrolled conditionally shall be excluded from school if the school is not provided with appropriate documentation of adequate immunization being completed on schedule.  Exclusion from school shall begin five days after the conditional enrollment time period expires.  Within these five days, the school shall mail to the last known address of a parent, guardian, or legal-age brother or sister of a student who is without parent or guardian a final written notice of pending suspension and of the student's right to file for an exemption.
        3. Referral to Juvenile Court
          Parents or guardians of children who are prohibited from attending school for failure to comply with the provisions of conditional enrollment shall be referred to the juvenile court.
      2. Exemption from Immunization
        A student is exempt from receiving the required immunization if there is presented to the school one or more of the following:

        1. A Utah State Medical Exemption form from a licensed health care provider stating that due to the physical condition of the student one or more specified immunizations would endanger the student's life or health.
        2. An official Utah State Personal Exemption form obtained at the local health department where the student resides indicating that the person has a personal belief opposed to immunizations.
        3. An official Utah State Religious Exemption form obtained at the local health department where the student resides indicating that the person is a bona fide member of a specified, recognized religious organization whose teachings are contrary to immunizations. (Utah Code Ann. §53G-9-303).
      3. The administration will comply with the McKinney-Vento Act (see Policy AS63(II)(F) – Student Eligibility to Attend School.)
    3. With respect to any student for whom a school does not have a Utah School Immunization Record, the school shall notify by mail, telephone or in person the parent, guardian, a legal-age brother or sister of a student who is without parent or guardian, or the student if of legal age, at least 30 days before school begins that:
      1. The school has no Utah School Immunization Record for the student.
      2. The school may not admit the student without proof of immunization or evidence that the student qualifies for conditional enrollment or is exempted on medical, personal or religious grounds.
      3. The student may be immunized and receive certification by a private physician or public health authorities.
      4. Immunizations are available from the local health department.
    4. Students moving into Utah during the summer shall be notified of these requirements at the time of first registration.
    5. Each school shall maintain on file an official Utah School Immunization Record for each student or a Utah Department of Health Personal Exemption Form if the student claims a personal exemption.  A copy of the certificate shall be made available to the parent or guardian, or the student is of legal age, when the student withdraws, transfers, is promoted, or otherwise leaves the school, or the school shall transfer the certificate with the student's school record to the new school.
    6. The principal shall identify all who have not completed their immunization program as outlined by the State Board of Health and notify the coordinator of Educational Support Services of any students who are excluded from school because of failure to meet immunization requirements.
    7. During the first week of August, elementary schools shall notify middle schools and middle schools shall notify high schools of any incoming students who have not met the immunization requirements.
    8. Exclusions of students who are under exemption or conditionally enrolled status will follow Utah Code Ann. §53G-9-303 and Utah Department of Health Rule 396-100-8.