Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3515P

Food Allergy Management - Medical Plans of Care

There are several written documents individualized for a particular student with a severe or life- threatening food

allergy which may be used to address the student’s needs throughout the school day. These may be developed

with input from a core team, which may include the student (if appropriate), the student’s parent/guardian, the

principal or his/her designee, the student’s teacher, the school nurse, the cafeteria manager, the counselor,

transportation staff, coaches, and other personnel deemed necessary to make decisions about food allergies.

Medical plans of care may include the:

Emergency Care Plan: A medical plan of care distributed to all school personnel who have responsibilities for the

care of the student. This plan specifically describes how to recognize a food allergy emergency and what to do

when signs or symptoms of these conditions are observed. In the event the student reports exposure to a food

allergen or shows symptoms of anaphylaxis he or she may be treated according to the Emergency Care Plan. This

plan may be developed from information provided by the student’s physician and parent/guardian prior to the

student’s entry to school, or immediately after the student is diagnosed with a severe allergy. Similar plans may

also be developed for staff members with severe allergies.

Individualized Healthcare Plan: A medical plan of care that may be developed by the school nurse in

collaboration with the student’s health care provider and core team to provide written direction for school

personnel to follow in accommodating the student’s needs throughout the day. It may address conduct and use

of allergen-containing products in the classroom, the cafeteria, the library, at recess, on field trips, during

extracurricular activities, and in other environments the student will face during the school day or during District-

sponsored activities. The plan may describe functional problem areas, set goals for overcoming problems, list

tasks or interventions to meet the goals, and identify staff members responsible for implementing the plan. This

plan may be developed prior to the student’s entry to school or immediately after the student is diagnosed with a

severe or life-threatening allergy. Input from the core team may be sought before changes are made to this plan.

Similar plans may also be developed for staff members with severe allergies.

If a student’s severe or life-threatening allergy is determined to be a disability, it may also be addressed in a

Section 504 Service Agreement and/or in the Related Services Component of their Individualized Education

Program (IEP).

A complete set of a student’s current medical plans of care related to food allergies may be maintained by the

school nurse. The Superintendent or building principal may also require that copies of the Emergency Care Plan

be kept in other places where they may be needed, such as with epinephrine auto-injectors kept in other places

in the school.

The school nurse may provide information or copies of the different components of a student’s medical plans

of care to appropriate personnel, including teachers, cafeteria staff, District staff supervising school-sponsored

extracurricular activities, and others who may be involved in the implementation of the medical plans of care.

Such information may be provided to substitute teachers along with contact information for the school nurse.

Students With Disabling Special Dietary Needs

When a student’s food allergy is identified, evaluated, and determined to be a disabling

condition, the District shall make appropriate accommodations, substitutions or modifications for such students in

accordance with the applicable policies relating to students with disabilities.

In such cases, the student may be required to have a written medical statement signed by a licensed physician to

be included with the student’s Individualized Healthcare Plan. The medical statement may identify:

1. The student’s special dietary disability;

2. An explanation of why the disability restricts the student’s diet;

3. The major life activity(ies) affected by the disability;

4. The food(s) to be omitted from the student’s diet; and

5. The food or choice of foods that must be provided as the substitute.

Students With Non-Disabling Special Dietary Needs

The District may, at its discretion, make appropriate accommodations, substitutions, or modifications for

students who have a special dietary need but who do not meet the definition of disability, such as a food

intolerance or allergy that does not cause a reaction that meets the definition of a disability. The decision to

accommodate such a student shall be made on a case- by-case basis.

Students who fall under this provision may be required to have a written medical statement signed by a

physician, physician assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner identifying the following:

1. The medical or other special dietary condition which restricts the student’s diet;

2. The food(s) to be omitted from the student’s diet; and

3. The food or choice of foods to be substituted.

Allergy In-Service Training

The District may provide periodic training to teachers, aides, volunteers, substitutes, food service personnel,

transportation personnel, and others as needed on any of the following topics:

1. Basic information such as signs, symptoms, and risks associated with food allergy and anaphylaxis;

2. Awareness of food and non-food items that might present risk;

3. Strategies that reduce the risk of exposure to identified allergens throughout the school

day;

4. Designation and maintenance of allergen-free zones;

5. Basic food handling procedures, including hand washing, avoiding cross-

contamination, and cleaning surfaces;

6. District and school level policies, procedures, and plans for managing students with chronic

health conditions including allergies;

7. How to respond in the case of a possible severe or life-threatening allergic reaction;

8. Local emergency medical service procedures;

9. Proper storage and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors, antihistamines, and other

medications;

10. Strategies to manage student privacy and confidentiality while maintaining an inclusive

class environment; and

11. How to deal with food allergy-related bullying.

Epinephrine and Other Medications

Students with severe allergies may be permitted to carry an epinephrine auto-injector with them, in accordance

with Policy 3510. A student’s epinephrine may also be kept in other locations where it would be easily accessible

for the student, such as in their classroom, with a District employee supervising lunch or recess periods, or on their

bus. Locations for storage will follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Staff may be notified of the locations of

epinephrine in the school. The Superintendent or building principal may require that whenever students are

present at a school, at least one person who has been trained to administer an epinephrine auto-injector is

also present.

Jerome Jt. School District may choose to keep stocks of epinephrine at its schools to be used in emergencies for

students with unknown allergies who develop an anaphylactic response and for those students with known

allergies if their personal emergency medication is found to be flawed. This epinephrine may be kept in a place that

is accessible at all hours when school is in session.

Any student who receives epinephrine at school must be immediately transported to a hospital for evaluation by

a licensed healthcare provider and further observation or immediately released into the care and custody of

their parent(s)/guardian(s).

The Cafeteria

The Superintendent or building principal may require that cafeteria staff take any of the following

steps to accommodate students with severe or life-threatening allergies:

1. Prohibit specific foods;

2. Clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces and equipment to avoid cross contamination with potential

food allergens;

3. Wear non-latex gloves, and change or wash gloved hands during extended use to avoid cross-

contamination with potential food allergens;

4. Have photos of students with severe or life-threatening allergies placed in the

kitchen, only for kitchen staff to view;

5. Make appropriate substitutions or modifications to meals served to students with serious

allergies;

6. Be prepared to make food ingredient lists used in food production and service available. Maintain

food labels from each food served to a child with allergies for at least twenty-four (24) hours following

service in case the student has a reaction from a food eaten in the cafeteria; and

7. With parental approval, set up cafeteria procedures such as entering a student’s allergy into

computerized database. Such information would remain confidential and shared on a need-to-know basis in compliance with federal privacy regulations.

Allergies and the Classroom

The school nurse, teacher, and parents of any children with severe or life-threatening allergies, may set a

classroom protocol regarding the management of food in the classroom. This protocol will be communicated by

the teacher to the students and parents of the affected class, and may include any of the following

accommodations:

1. The parents of students with severe or life-threatening allergies may provide allergen- free snacks

to be kept in the classroom and given to the student when treats are served in the classroom;

2. Students, parents, and staff may be prohibited from bringing homemade treats or specified

foods for in-class consumption. Only commercially prepared treats with intact ingredient labels may

be allowed in class;

3. Teachers may notify parents in writing of any school related activity that requires the use of food

in advance of the project or activity;

4. Use of food for instructional lessons may be limited or eliminated;

5. Use of food or candy as part of a school project related to the curriculum may be prohibited;

and

6. Allergen-containing foods may be prohibited in classrooms during after-school activities when

that classroom will be used by a student with a known food allergy during the school day.

The Superintendent or building principal may require teachers to take any of the following additional steps

to accommodate students with severe or life-threatening allergies:

1. Prohibit specific foods;

2. Clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces and equipment to avoid cross contamination with potential

food allergens;

3. Wear non-latex gloves, and change or wash gloved hands during extended use to avoid cross-

contamination with potential food allergens;

4. Have photos of students with severe or life-threatening allergies placed in the

kitchen, only for kitchen staff to view;

5. Make appropriate substitutions or modifications to meals served to students with serious allergies;

6. Be prepared to make food ingredient lists used in food production and service available. Maintain

food labels from each food served to a child with allergies for at least twenty-four (24) hours following

service in case the student has a reaction from a food eaten in the cafeteria; and

7. With parental approval, set up cafeteria procedures such as entering a student’s allergy into

computerized database. Such information would remain confidential and shared on a need-to-know basis

in compliance with federal privacy regulations.

Allergies and the Classroom

The school nurse, teacher, and parents of any children with severe or life-threatening allergies, may set a

classroom protocol regarding the management of food in the classroom. This protocol will be communicated by

the teacher to the students and parents of the affected class, and may include any of the following

accommodations:

1. The parents of students with severe or life-threatening allergies may provide allergen- free snacks

to be kept in the classroom and given to the student when treats are served in the classroom;

2. Students, parents, and staff may be prohibited from bringing homemade treats or specified

foods for in-class consumption. Only commercially prepared treats with intact ingredient labels may

be allowed in class;

3. Teachers may notify parents in writing of any school related activity that requires the use of food

in advance of the project or activity;

4. Use of food for instructional lessons may be limited or eliminated;

5. Use of food or candy as part of a school project related to the curriculum may be prohibited; and

6. Allergen-containing foods may be prohibited in classrooms during after-school activities when

that classroom will be used by a student with a known food allergy during the school day.

The Superintendent or building principal may require teachers to take any of the following additional steps

to accommodate students with severe or life-threatening allergies:

1. Post signs indicating rules for preventing exposure to life-threatening allergens in the classroom

and ensure that these rules are enforced;

2. Eliminate the use of food allergens in the allergic student’s educational tools, school- provided

supplies, and incentives;

3. Participate in the planning of students’ re-entry into school after an anaphylactic reaction; and

4. Send notices to parents of students in the classroom that the classroom is a free zone with regard to a specified food.

Teachers may be required to develop and implement age-appropriate lessons on allergies for such subjects as

health, family and consumer sciences, biology, and physical education. Such lessons may emphasize:

1. Support for, and inclusion of, classmates with chronic health conditions, such as food allergies;

2. Bullying prevention, including reporting harassment, hazing, and bullying to school personnel;

3. Knowledge of potential allergens and the symptoms of a potentially life-threatening reaction;

4. Differences between life-threatening allergies and food intolerances;

5. Appropriate response to emergency situations such as life-threatening allergic reactions;

6. Developmentally-appropriate self-management of food allergies; and

7. The importance of following District health policies and guidelines, such as those regarding

hand washing, food-sharing, and allergen safe zones.

Transportation

The school bus drivers may be informed when they are transporting a student with a life- threatening allergy. The

Superintendent or building principal may require bus drivers to take any of the following additional steps to

accommodate students with severe or life-threatening allergies:

1. Strictly enforce a policy of no eating on the bus. Students with medically documented needs may be

permitted to eat allergen-safe foods on the bus;

2. Refrain from handing out food treats; and

3. Assign seats to students, and/or seat students with life-threatening allergies

immediately behind and to the right side of the bus driver.

The Superintendent or building principal may require the transportation department to send letters to parents of

all students who use District transportation informing them that at least one student at the school has a life-

threatening allergy, requesting that their child wash their face and hands after breakfast and before boarding the

bus, and informing them of rules prohibiting students from eating on the bus.

Field Trips

The Superintendent or building principal may require that those organizing field trips take any of the following

steps to accommodate students with severe or life-threatening allergies:

1. Take into consideration the potential for exposure to the student’s food allergens when

determining sites for field trips, and consider ways of avoiding allergen exposure during the field trip;

2. Notify parents of students with severe or life-threatening allergies and the school nurse as

soon as possible of any upcoming field trip;

3. Allow parents of students with severe or life-threatening allergies to accompany the

student on field trip;

4. Store meals for students with food allergies separately to minimize cross-contamination;

5. Ensure that students do not eat on the bus;

6. Prepare ways for participants to wash hands before and after eating, such as with hand wipes;

7. Appoint a District employee attending the field trip to implement any student’s

Emergency Care Plan if necessary, and bring all supplies necessary to do so; and

8. Note the location of closest medical facility ahead of time.

Other Accommodations

The Superintendent or building principal or the designee may require that any of following steps be implemented

to accommodate students with severe or life-threatening allergies:

1. Prohibit food and utensil trading and sharing, and post signs in schools informing students that

they are expected to neither trade nor share food or utensils;

2. Designate particular tables in the cafeteria, particular classrooms, areas within classrooms, or other areas

as allergen-free zones. These zones may be designated by a universal symbol, and be cleaned with a

separate wash bucket and cloth with District-approved cleaning agents;

3. Post signs at points of entry to each school and/or on the school or District website advising that there

are students with life-threatening allergies. Such signs may not disclose the identity of the student

with the food allergy unless his or her parent has consented to that disclosure;

4. Have letters sent to all parents of children attending school with a least one student known to have

a life-threatening allergy, notifying them of the severity of the health threat, signs and symptoms to be

aware of, and concise list of foods and a materials of concern and school policy regarding them. This will

be done in a way that protects

the confidentiality of the student with the life-threatening allergy. If other students or parents may be

able to guess or deduce which student has the life-threatening allergy, approval of the student’s parent

may be sought before the letter is sent;

5. Hold Emergency Care Plan drills to assure the efficiency and effectiveness of such plans;

6. Ensure that there is at least one functioning emergency communication device, such as a walkie-

talkie or cell phone, available at all times in classrooms, on field trips, at recess, during physical education

class, at school-sponsored extracurricular activities, and/or on school buses;

7. Develop a cleaning protocol to ensure that the threat of allergens is minimized;

8. Prohibit the sale of particular food items in the school; and

9. Request that students refrain from bringing foods to which a student is known to have a severe or life-

threatening allergy to school, and request that parents refrain from sending such foods to school. A

Superintendent or building principal may completely prohibit particular food items from the school or school

grounds when it is felt that the benefits of doing so would outweigh the difficulty of enforcing such a ban and the

controversy such a measure is likely to provoke.

Confidentiality

The District will endeavor to maintain the confidentiality of students with food allergies, to the extent appropriate

and as requested by the student’s parents/guardians. District staff shall maintain the confidentiality of student

records as required by law, regulations, and Board policy.

Expectations of Students with Severe or Life-Threatening Allergies and their Parents

The Board expects students with life-threatening allergies to do the following, as age appropriate:

1. Take as much responsibility as possible for avoiding allergens, including refraining from sharing or

trading of foods or eating utensils with others, refraining from eating anything with unknown ingredients

or a known allergen; avoid putting anything in mouth such as writing utensils, fingers, or other foreign

objects;

2. Use proper hand washing before and after eating and throughout the school day;

3. Learn to recognize personal symptoms;

4. Notify an adult immediately if they eat something they believe may contain a food to which they

are allergic;

5. Notify an adult if they are being bullied, harassed, hazed, or threatened by other students as

it relates to their food allergy;

6. Carry their epinephrine auto-injector with them at all times if they are permitted to do so, or know

where the auto-injector is kept and who has access to it;

7. Know how to get to the nurse’s office;

8. Develop an awareness of their environment and their allergen-free zones; and

9. Know their overall Individual Healthcare Plan and understand the responsibilities of the plan.

The Board encourages parents of students with serious allergies to do the following, as age appropriate:

1. Teach their child to:

a. Not share snacks, lunches, drinks, or utensils; b. Know which foods are and are not safe

for them to eat, and to read labels and understand ingredient safety;

c. Understand the importance of hand washing before and after eating;

d. Recognize the first symptoms of an allergic or anaphylactic reaction;

e. Communicate with school staff as soon as he/she feels a reaction is starting;

f. Understand rules and expectations about bullying related to food allergies, and report such

teasing and/or bullying;

g. Carry his/her own epinephrine auto-injector when appropriate, or know where the

epinephrine auto-injector is kept and who has access to it;

h. Administer his/her own epinephrine auto-injector and be able to train others in its use;

and

i. Develop awareness of their environments, including allergy-controlled zones.

2. Inform the school nurse of their child’s allergies prior to the opening of school, or as soon as

possible after diagnosis. All food allergies must be verified by documentation from physician, nurse

practitioner ,or physician assistant;

3. Work with the core team collaboratively to develop the Individualized Healthcare

Plan, and provide an Emergency Care Plan completed by the student’s physician;

4. Complete and submit all requested and required forms. Provide the school with current cell

phone, pager, and other emergency contact numbers;

5. Allow District health personnel to consult with the student’s physician or healthcare provider,

and provide current contact information for the healthcare provider;

6. Provide the school nurse with up-to-date emergency medications so they can be placed in all

required locations for the current school year. Parents may be requested to

provide two (2) or more epinephrine auto-injectors. Medications must comply with the

District medication policy of proper labeling and expiration;

7. Consider providing a medical alert bracelet for their child;

8. If requested, provide “safe snacks” for their student’s classroom in case of an unplanned special

event. Parents may also be asked to provide a nonperishable safe lunch to be kept at school in case

the student forgets to bring lunch;

9. Review policies, procedures, and plans with the core team annually and following any allergic

reaction at school; and

10. Provide the school nurse with at least annual updates on their child’s allergy status.

Inform the school of any changes in the child’s life-threatening allergy status and provide a

physician’s statement if the student no longer has food allergies.

Policy History:

Adopted on: 09/24/2013

Revised on: