The following procedures apply in the case of common infectious diseases as listed in the current Infectious Disease Control Guide, and as indicated on the Notifiable Conditions page of the Washington State Department of Health's website.

Each incident of a student who is absent from school because he/she is suffering from a communicable disease is to be reported to the school nurse.

All cases of notifiable diseases (including suspected diseases or diseases with known diagnosis) are to be reported to the Health Services Office.

When symptoms of communicable disease are observed in a student while at school, the regular procedure for the disposition of ill or injured students follows. The principal, program manager, nurse, or designee will:

• call the parents or guardians to advise of the signs and symptoms;
   
• determine when the parent or guardian shall pick up the student;
   
• keep the student isolated until parent or guardian arrives;
   
• notify the principal, program manager, or appropriate administrator of the arrangements that have been made prior to removing the student from school; and
   
• contact the local health offices if the disease is reportable.

The above procedure does not apply to students 14-years of age or older exhibiting symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease. In such instances, only the local health department is to be notified, in order to preserve the student's confidentiality rights.

Once the "period of communicability" as defined in the policy has passed, the student should be re-enrolled in school.  District health services can be contacted for the time frames associated with each specific condition. The length of exclusion from school will be determined by the directions given in the Infectious Disease Control Guide or instructions provided by the health care provider or the local health officer.

Information concerning a student's present and past health condition shall be treated as confidential.

Treatment of Students with Chronic Medical Conditions (e.g. HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis):

On the disclosure that a student has been identified as having Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or infectious hepatitis, the Superintendent, principal, parent, local health officer, school nurse and the student's licensed health care provider will confer as necessary and determine the appropriate placement of the student. The student will be accommodated in the least restrictive manner, free of discrimination, without endangering the other students or staff. The student may be excluded from school in accordance with the current Infectious Disease Control Guide. All discussions and records will be treated as confidential, consistent with Chapters 70.02 and 70.24 RCW.

Release of information regarding the testing, test result, diagnosis or treatment of a student for a sexually transmitted disease, HIV, drug, alcohol, or mental health treatment or family planning or abortion may only be made pursuant to an effective release and only to the degree permitted by the release. To be effective, a release must be signed and dated, must specify to whom the release may be made and the time period for which the release is effective.

Students 14-years of age and older must authorize disclosure regarding HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, or reproductive healthcare issues. Students 13-years of age and older must authorize disclosure regarding drug or alcohol treatment or mental health treatment. Students of any age must authorize disclosure regarding family planning or abortion. Parents must authorize disclosure pertaining to younger students. 

New employee training on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention will be provided within six (6) months from the first day of employment in the district. Continuing employees will receive information, within one (1) year of district receipt from OSPI, on new discoveries or changes in accepted knowledge of transmission, prevention, and treatment for HIV/AIDS. 

Adopted:

12/19/19