School Board Statement on Head Lice:
According to a School Board Decision, and pending the passing of a similar policy, the school will be following the following procedure for any Pediculosis outbreak. It is URGENT that every parent sees these outbreaks as the responsibility of each and every family to help control. Regular and ongoing checks of your children will be much more effective than to have the total responsibility be the school's, especially as we have a nurse one day a week. Working cooperatively and with a sense of community we can work together to limit these outbreaks, but in this situation, it really does require each family taking the situation seriously and not only when an outbreak happens.
Lice (Pediculosis)
"The school nurse is the most knowledgeable professional in the school community and so ideally suited to provide education and anticipatory guidance to the school community regarding "best practices" of pediculosis management. The school nurse's goals are to contain the infestation, provide appropriate health information for treatment and prevention, prevent overexposure to potentially hazardous chemicals, and minimize school absence"
The school nurse will conduct school wide head checks at the beginning of each school year, and after winter and spring vacations. During these checks, students will be taught not to share hats, clothes or combs with friends at school, and to store hats and scarves inside their jacket sleeves. Head checks will also be done whenever necessary in a classroom if a case occurs. The school also recommends that families do routine head checks at home. Information will be sent home to parents twice a year, with quarterly reminders on Alert Now for parents to check children regularly (once a week), and to reference the literature received.
If a case of head lice is found, the school nurse will notify the parent / guardian, and the student will be removed from school. The student is to be treated before returning to school. Literature will be sent home instructing parents on procedures for treatment. Upon returning to school, the student will be rechecked before returning to class. The nurse will contact the family to insure that follow-up treatments have been implemented in a timely manner.