STUDENTS
507.3 - COMMUNICABLE DISEASES - STUDENTS
Students with a communicable disease will be allowed to attend school provided their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to other students or employees. The term "communicable disease" shall mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.
Prevention and control of communicable diseases shall be included in the school district's bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan. The procedures shall include scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance, universal precautions, vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, follow-up, communication of hazards to employees and record keeping. This plan shall be reviewed annually by the superintendent and school nurse.
The health risk to immunodepressed students shall be determined by their personal physician. The health risk to others in the school district environment from the presence of a student with a communicable disease shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the student's personal physician, a physician chosen by the school district or public health officials.
A student who is at school and who has a communicable disease which creates a substantial risk of harm to other students, employees, or others at school shall report the condition to the Superintendent any time the student is aware that the disease actively creates such risk.
A student’s parent or guardian shall notify the superintendent or the school nurse when the student learns the student has a communicable disease. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, when the superintendent or school nurse, upon investigation, has knowledge that a reportable communicable disease is present, to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health. Health data of a student is confidential and it shall not be disclosed to third parties, except in cases of reportable communicable diseases.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the school nurse, to develop administrative regulations stating the procedures for dealing with students with a communicable disease.
NOTE: This policy is consistent with current health practices regarding communicable diseases. The bloodborne pathogen language in the second paragraph and accompanying regulation is in compliance with federal law on control of bloodborne pathogens.
Legal Reference: School Board of Nassau County v. Arline, 480 U.S. 273 (1987).
29 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq. (1988).
45 C.F.R. Pt. 84.3 (1993).
Iowa Code ch. 139 (1997).
641 I.A.C. 1.2-.5, 7.
Cross Reference: 403.3 Communicable Diseases - Employees
506 Student Records
507 Student Health and Well-Being
Approved: 1/21/99
Revised: 10/29/2020
Reviewed: 10/29/2020, 10/16/2023