Policy No.	3414
	Adoption Date:	February 13, 1991
	Revised:	December 16, 1998

STUDENTS INFECTIOUS DISEASES

In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable diseases, the Superintendent shall implement procedures assuring that all buildings are in compliance with State Board of Health rules and regulations regarding the presence of persons who have or have been exposed to infectious diseases deemed dangerous to the public health. Such procedures shall also prescribe the manner in which safeguards are taken to remove the danger to others.

The district shall require that the parents or guardian complete a medical history form at the beginning of each school year. The nurse or school physician may use such reports to advise the parent of the need for further medical attention and to plan for potential health problems in school.

The Board authorizes the school principal/designee to exclude a student who has been diagnosed by a physician or is suspected of having an infectious disease in accordance with the regulations within the Infectious Disease Control Guide (SPI, 3-1997). The principal/designee and/or school nurse shall report the presence of suspected case or cases of reportable communicable disease to the appropriate local health authority as required by the State Board of Health. Such information concerning a student's present and past health condition shall be treated as confidential. The principal/designee shall cooperate with the local health officials in the investigation of the source of the disease.

The fact that a student has been tested for a sexually-transmitted disease, the test result and any information relating to the diagnosis or treatment of a sexually-transmitted disease, and any information regarding drug or alcohol treatment for a student must be kept strictly confidential. If the District has a release, the information may be disclosed pursuant to the restrictions in the release.

A school principal/designee has the authority to send an ill child home with parent notification, without the concurrence of the local health officer, but if the disease is reportable, the local health officer must be notified. The local health officer is the primary resource in the identification and control of infectious disease in community and school.

Legal References:

RCW	28A.210.010	Contagious diseases, limiting contact -- Rules and Regulations
	70.02	Medical records--health care information access and disclosure
WAC	Ch. 246-110	School districts and day care centers -- Contagious diseases
	246-100-071	Responsibility for reporting and cooperating with the local health department
	246-100-076	Reportable diseases and conditions