Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3520

Contagious or Infectious Diseases

The District is required to provide educational services to all school age children who reside within its boundaries.

Attendance at school may be denied to any child diagnosed as having a contagious or infectious disease that could make the child’s attendance harmful to the welfare of other students. In the instance of diseases causing

suppressed immunity, attendance may be denied to a child with suppressed immunity in order to protect the

welfare of the child with suppressed immunity when others in the school have an infectious disease which,

although not normally life threatening, could be life threatening to the child with suppressed immunity.

The Board recognizes that communicable diseases that may afflict students range from common childhood

diseases, acute and short-term in nature, to chronic, life-threatening diseases. The District shall rely on the advice

of the public health and medical communities in assessing the risk of transmission of various communicable

diseases to determine how best to protect the health of both students and staff.

Management of common communicable diseases will be in accordance with Idaho Department of Health and

Welfare guidelines and communicable diseases control rules. A student who exhibits symptoms of a

communicable disease that is readily transmitted in the school setting may be temporarily excluded from school

attendance.

Students who complain of illness at school may be referred to the school nurse or other responsible person and

may be sent home as soon as the parent or person designated on the student’s emergency medical authorization

form has been notified.

The District reserves the right to require a statement from the student’s primary care provider authorizing the

student’s return to school. Students may return to school when they have been free from vomiting, fever and/or

diarrhea for twenty-four (24) hours). In all proceedings related to this policy, the District shall respect the student’s

right to privacy.

When information is received by a staff member or volunteer that a student is afflicted with a serious

communicable disease, the staff member or volunteer shall promptly notify the school nurse or other responsible

person to determine appropriate measures to protect student and staff health and safety. The school nurse or

other responsible person, after consultation with and on the advice of public health officials, shall determine which

additional staff members, if any, have need to know of the affected student’s condition.

Only those with direct responsibility for the care of the student or for determining appropriate educational

accommodation will be informed of the specific nature of the condition, if it is determined there is a need for such

individuals to know this information.

Parents of other children attending the school may be notified that their child has been exposed to a

communicable disease without identifying the particular student who has the disease.

Legal Reference: I.C. § 33-512 District Trustees - Governance of Schools

Cross Reference: 3521 Head Lice (Pediculosis)

Policy History:

Adopted on: 04/28/2009

Revised on: 01/25/2022

Revised on: 02/27/2024