From the Health Office
Alma Hayes RN, School Nurse
895-4697 ext 224
 
The district employs a part-time school nurse and part-time health aide to provide health services to all students. If your child is unwell during the school day we endeavor to contact you, or your listed emergency contact. It is important that you keep all contact telephone numbers current by calling the school secretary with changes so we can inform you as soon as possible if your child is unwell or has an accident.
If your child has special medical needs or you have concerns about your child’s health call the school nurse.  A plan of care can be developed in conjunction with you, and if necessary your child’s doctor, to ensure that appropriate care is given at school.
 
Immunization Requirements
Each student must have received all immunizations required by the state of California at the time of school registration to qualify for school enrollment. The district is responsible for maintaining records to ensure that all students have met these requirements. The school nurse or health aide will communicate any immunization needs to you upon your child’s enrollment.
The district participates in the Immunization Registry of Northern California which provides on-line access to immunization records. If your pediatrician/physician is also a participant and you have signed an agreement to share this information we can quickly access your child’s immunization records. If you have not signed a release of records at your pediatrician’s office you will need to bring copies of the immunization record to school.
If your child lacks immunizations to enter school they may be obtained (on an appointment basis) at the Butte County Health Department, 2445 Carmichael Drive, Chico (879-3665), or from your physician.
 
Exemptions Medical & Personal
There are two types of exemptions allowed by the California School Immunization Law. (1) Your child may be exempt because of a medical condition. If so, you must present a statement signed by your doctor stating the medical problem, which immunizations your child cannot receive, and if the medical problem is temporary of permanent. (2) If immunizations are against your religious/personal belief you must sign a statement to this effect at school. If your child is exempt and there is a disease outbreak the school may be ordered by the health department to temporarily exclude your child for his/her protection.
 
Communicable Disease Control
As required by the Education Code, whenever there is good reason to believe that a student is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, the student shall be sent home and shall not be permitted to return until the school authorities are satisfied that the condition does not exist.
 
Medications at School
The school district recognizes that students may need to take prescribed medication during the school day in order to be able to attend school without jeopardizing their health. The goal is to ensure that medication is safely administered to students within the requirements of state law.
1. Talk to your child’s doctor about making a medicine schedule so that your child does not have to take medicine while at school.
2. If your child has to take medicine while at school the district must receive a written authorization from you AND the child’s health care provider (call the health office to obtain a Medication Authorization form) that details the method, amount, and time schedule by which the medication is to be taken (EC Section 49423).
3. Written authorization is required for both prescription AND over-the-counter mediations such as Tylenol.
4. State law allows students to carry and self-administer emergency (Epipen) or otherwise immediately necessary medication (e.g. asthma inhalers) if the student’s parent and the health care provider give written permission and the school nurse observes and documents the student’s capability to safely and competently perform the task as authorized.
5. If your child is regularly taking medicine for an ongoing health problem, even if he/she only takes the medicine at home, send  a written note to the school nurse at the beginning of the school year. You must list the medicine being taken, the current amount, and the name of the doctor who prescribed it (EC Section 49480).
6. As parent/guardian you must supply the school with all medicine your child must take during the school day. You or another adult must deliver the medicine to school, except medicine your child is authorized to carry and take by him/herself.
7. All controlled medicine, like Ritalin, must be counted and recorded on a medicine log when delivered to school. You should verify the count by signing the log.
8. Each medicine must be in a separate container labeled by a pharmacist (for prescription medication) or the original bottle for over-the-counter medicine.
9. Pick up all discontinued, outdated or unused medicine before the end of the school year.
 
For information on student rights related to medication administration assistance visit the California Dept of Education web site at  http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/fp/
 
CHDP Requirement
To protect the health of children California law requires a health examination sometime during the 18 months prior to entering first grade. This requirement is often referred to as the CHDP physical (Child Health & Disability Prevention). Obtaining a physical examination before entering kindergarten, when immunization boosters are needed, provides an opportunity to take care of both requirements at the same time. The CHDP program at the local health dept provides free medical examinations to lower income families. Contact the school health office to obtain forms or information about the CHDP program.